Plant Manager

Why Choose Us as Your Employer?

The Plant Manager will be responsible for all day-to-day operations of our new production facility in South Windsor, CT. As we approach opening day for the plant in 2025, this role will support the retrofit of the existing building and initial site setup, team selection and development, production process design, and productivity goals for the new site. Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Plant Manager will ensure the production schedule is attained with product that is manufactured safely and within quality standards, food safety standards and cost objectives. in production, maintenance, facilities, warehouse, and sanitation and ensure the success of all functions at the plant. They will collaborate with functional leads from EHS, Supply Chain, Engineering, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Vendor Assurance, and Finance to achieve the needs of our customers while being accountable for the safety, throughput, efficiency, service and maintenance goals.

The plant will open in 2025 with one shift running five days a week, with plans to add additional shifts and production lines through the end of 2027, ultimately overseeing a team of over 150 employees by the time the plant is operating at its intended long-term capacity.

We are open to candidates who are willing to relocate to the area for this position and relocation assistance is available. Because of the nature of the role, this position is generally needed at the plant 5 days a week.

What You’ll Do:

• Operational Leadership: Direct all plant operations, including production, maintenance, and facilities, ensuring achievement of productivity and efficiency goals.
• Team Development: Select, train, develop, and motivate plant staff. Build a strong, cohesive team capable of meeting operational demands and achieving continuous improvement. Develop people capability through effective development planning, employee relations, hiring, training, and communication for both management and front-line hourly personnel.
• Production Oversight: Ensure the production schedule is met with high-quality standards in a food-safe environment. Oversee all production activities and maintain plant property and equipment.
• Process Design and Improvement: Provide input and oversight in the design and implementation of production processes. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
• Compliance and Safety: Ensure all operations comply with company policies and local, state, and federal regulations. Maintain a safe working environment and uphold food safety standards.
• Sanitation Oversight: Ensure the sanitation team executes processes in partnership with Food Safety, Quality, Vendor Assurance teams, and USDA.
• Reporting and Analysis: Prepare and submit operating reports to management, making recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Maintain proper documentation of the facility, equipment, and modifications in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Customer Service: Ensure timely delivery of quality products to customers, maintaining strong customer relationships.
• Strategic Planning: Develop the annual operating plan for the plant, managing direct and indirect controllable costs. Track key performance indicators and financial targets.
• Vendor Management: Establish relationships with critical third-party vendors to support plant operations, such as those providing equipment, maintenance services, and temporary staffing. Establish senior-level relationships with critical third-party vendors that provide critical support to the facility.
• Leadership and Culture: Champion a culture of positive accountability, drive leadership behaviors, and implement lean manufacturing principles. Ensure high engagement and retention across teams. Manage conflict and display excellent diplomacy skills in handling difficult situations.
• Problem-Solving: Address day-to-day operational issues and achieve short- and long-term performance goals. Anticipate and mitigate risks to operational uptime.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including EHS, Supply Chain, Engineering, Human Resources, Quality, Vendor Assurance, and Finance to ensure overall success of the plant. Collaborate with Engineering/CapEx project teams to support plant setup and ongoing operations.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in operations, engineering, supply chain, business, finance, logistics, or related field
• of experience in manufacturing, preferably in the meat processing industry. Experience managing production and maintenance teams.
• Proven success in leading and developing teams, implementing continuous improvement initiatives, and managing complex operations.
• Strong understanding of OSHA, USDA, and food safety regulations. Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing experience preferred.
• Experience in managing budgets and P&L. Strong strategic planning and financial projection skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to relate to and communicate with all levels of the organization.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage conflict and handle difficult situations diplomatically.
• Must be able to travel occasionally between our existing sites in CT and MA, particularly during the plant's ramp-up phase.

Last updated on Aug 12, 2024