Plant Manager
Direct Hire Opening
Location: Atlanta, GA
Reports To: VP of Operations
Overview
The Plant Manager oversees and leads all aspects of plant performance with a strong focus on operational excellence, high OEE and yield, safety, quality, people development, and continuous improvement. This includes leadership of Production, Quality, Maintenance, Shipping & Receiving, Sanitation, and Finance functions. This person will have a handful of direct reports and will have around 350 indirect reports at the facility.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership
- Set and communicate a clear vision for food safety, quality, financial performance, and operational scalability.
- Lead plant-wide meetings, performance reviews, and improvement initiatives.
- Partner with leadership and HR to drive development, engagement, and communication.
- Actively listen to team concerns and implement solutions.
- Provide mentorship and accountability through consistent leadership practices.
- Promote a culture of transparency, accountability, and respect.
Operations Management
- Meet or exceed production goals, customer requirements, and KPIs.
- Analyze production data to identify trends and improvements.
- Manage equipment to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and control costs.
- Implement cost-saving measures and manage budgets.
- Maintain accountability for product quality and safety.
- Oversee plant maintenance and minimize downtime.
Safety
- Partner with EHS to improve team safety and evaluate projects for safe operation.
Quality
- Lead product launches with focus on readiness and quality.
- Oversee GMP and BRC compliance, including Kosher requirements.
- Monitor customer feedback and uphold delivery, consistency, and service standards.
- Identify and address root causes of quality issues.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead process and equipment upgrades using Lean principles.
- Plan and manage capital projects and strategic initiatives.
- Evaluate cost, efficiency, and quality metrics and adjust operations accordingly.
- Promote innovation and problem-solving across teams.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 5 years of plant or operations management experience.
- Food manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
- Proven ability to influence and engage at all levels
