Plant Manager - Proliant Dairy Ingredients - St Johns, MI

Overview

Proliant Dairy Ingredients is committed to providing the best dairy ingredient options for enhancing the value and effectiveness of our partners’ products. We value quality in all we do; it is who we are. To that end, the purpose of this position is to facilitate and coordinate effective and efficient plant operations as well as the development of high‑quality supervisors and plant operators, within a committed team environment.

The Plant Manager is responsible for consistently modeling, promoting, enforcing, and maintaining a safe work environment and consistently striving to produce high quality products that meet or exceed customer expectations.

• Align plant leadership and employees around company goals and operational objectives, ensuring effective communication, clear priorities, and coordinated execution across all departments to drive overall plant performance.
• Establish clear information‑sharing processes and foster a culture of collaboration and accountability across all shifts and departments.
• Develop, lead, and maintain an aligned plant leadership team by setting consistent expectations and promoting unified decision‑making.
• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with company values and hold leaders and employees accountable for upholding those standards.
• Collaborate with leaders at other plant locations to share best practices, exchange learnings, and identify opportunities to improve operational performance.
• Monitor and enforce safety rules and guidelines to ensure safe work conditions.
• Develop and maintain training programs for supervisors and team members and continue to develop knowledge in dairy/drying processes and techniques.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying plant issues, implementing corrective actions, and enhancing overall operational performance.
• Create and implement annual tactical plans and regularly communicate with employees regarding daily and long‑term operations and goals.
• Develop plant budget, oversee equipment and machinery repairs or purchases, and support facility improvement and additions in conjunction with the Vice President of Operations.
• Monitor plant expenses and devise corrective actions to meet budget goals and identify capital expenses that support planned run time.
• Schedule incoming permeate loads based on supplier communication and coordinate with permeate suppliers on specifications.
• Oversee ordering and coordinate the flow of production supplies to maintain constant production flow (e.g., finished bag, pallets, slip sheets).
• Troubleshoot production issues and develop bench strength through training and succession planning.
• Motivate supervisors and employees to achieve continuous process and personal improvement.
• Lead all aspects of people management, from hiring and development to performance, recognition, and employee relations.
• Serve as backup SQF Practitioner and backup PCQI.

• Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• Five years of production management operations experience with a bachelor’s degree in a related field, or 8‑10 years of equivalent experience without a bachelor’s degree.
• Dairy industry experience strongly preferred.

• Must live within 30 minutes of the plant.
• Specific knowledge and first‑hand experience with industrial production processes in an edible food processing plant.
• Ability to monitor production processes, make necessary adjustments in scheduling, and improve production methods or techniques to achieve company goals.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement all safety techniques and procedures related to plant operations.
• Ability to analyze, forecast, and plan production objectives.
• Ability to hire, train, and evaluate personnel to create a competent workforce and meet production objectives in a cost‑effective manner.
• Include goal setting and performance measurement.
• Develop and implement standard policies and procedures to maintain consistent daily plant operations, including S.O.P.s.
• Effectively interact and manage plant personnel.
• Communicate with corporate office management, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and other…