Position Summary:
ThePlant Directoris responsible for overseeing all aspects ofproduction, operations, and compliancewithin the facility, ensuring that corporate goals, customer requirements, and regulatory standards are met. This role providesstrategic leadership, drives operational excellence, and fosters a culture of safety, quality, and efficiency. The Plant Director works closely with cross-functional teams to optimize performance, implement continuous improvement initiatives, and uphold the highest standards in food safety and employee engagement.
Education & Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor?s degreeinEngineering, Operations Management, or a related technical field(preferred).
- 8+ years of senior leadership experienceinfast-paced Food & Beverage Manufacturing.
- Proven track record indriving change, implementing continuous improvement, and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Strong expertise inLean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and/or Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
- Experience managingproduction, quality, safety, and compliancein a manufacturing setting.
- Proficiency indata analysis, reporting, and performance metricsusing Excel and PowerPoint.
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership & Performance Management:
- Overseeday-to-day plant operations, ensuring efficiency, productivity, and adherence to corporate and customer expectations.
- Develop and executestrategic plant objectivesaligned withcorporate goals and customer requirements.
- Analyzeplant performance metrics, identify areas of concern, and develop action plans to drive improvements.
- Lead and facilitateregular production meetingswith plant employees and salaried associates to ensure alignment on goals and expectations.
- Monitor and managebusiness metrics, includingyield, labor efficiency, and overhead expenses, to drive profitability.
- Conductdirect observation of operating departments, ensuring compliance withproduction quality, sanitation, and safety standards.
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance:
- Ensurefull compliance with Safe Quality Food (SQF) and food safety requirementsacross all plant operations.
- Oversee and enforce compliance withOSHA, environmental regulations, and corporate standards.
- Investigate and identify root causes ofany non-compliance, implementing corrective actions as necessary.
- Conductannual SQF reviews, ensuring all plant personnel understand and adhere toquality and food safety protocols.
- Ensure that customer orders are fulfilledaccurately, efficiently, and in compliance with all specificationsrelated toquality, quantity, and cost.
- Overseebusiness continuity planning and crisis management, ensuring swift and effective decision-making during incidents.
Continuous Improvement & Lean Initiatives:
- Lead theimplementation of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and TPM methodologiesto optimize plant efficiency.
- Identify and drivecontinuous improvement projectsthat enhance productivity, reduce waste, and minimize operational costs.
- Monitorsafety and environmental impact, developing strategies foraccident reduction, energy conservation, and waste minimization.
- Utilizedata-driven decision-making, generating weekly, monthly, and quarterly performance reports for leadership review.
Team Leadership & Workforce Development:
- Providestrong leadership and directionto production and warehouse employees, ensuring high-quality work and accountability.
- Maintaineffective communicationof plant expectations, performance goals, and improvement initiatives.
- Overseeeffective workforce deployment, ensuring proper administration of labor agreements and HR policies.
- Foster aculture of engagement, collaboration, and continuous learningwithin the workforce.
- Coach, mentor, and developplant supervisors and managers, preparing them for future leadership opportunities.
Security & Crisis Management:
- Ensuresite security and food defense protocolsare implemented and continuously monitored.
- Lead theBusiness Continuity Team, making critical decisions in response tocrisesand overseeingincident investigations.
Key Competencies & Skills:
- Strong leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate employees at all levels.
- Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and TPM, with a track record of successful process improvements.
- Analytical mindsetwith the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and drive informed decision-making.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of engaging with employees, senior executives, and stakeholders.
- Deep knowledge of food safety regulations, OSHA standards, and environmental compliance.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.