Plant Manager

Foreground LLC; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading industrial manufacturer in the UAE is seeking a Plant Manager to oversee operations at their food production facility. This critical leadership role entails ensuring operational efficiency, compliance with food safety standards, and team performance. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 12 years in manufacturing with at least 5 years in a senior management role, demonstrating a strong technical background and proven leadership in scaling operations. Fluent English is required, and knowledge of Arabic is advantageous.

Qualifications

• 12 years of experience in manufacturing, at least 5 years in a senior plant management role.
• Strong technical background in production engineering and quality management.
• Proven leadership in managing multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise plant operations across all departments.
• Develop operational strategies for efficiency and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
• Manage budgets and coordinate capital expenditures.
• Foster a safety-first culture in the workplace.

Skills

Leadership in manufacturing operations

Knowledge of food safety regulations

Lean manufacturing principles

Project management

Fluency in English

Comfort with ERP systems

Job description

Overview

Foreground is partnering with a leading industrial manufacturer in the UAE to appoint a Plant Manager to oversee the full operations of its food production facility.

This is a critical leadership role tasked with driving operational excellence production efficiency and quality assurance across a complex high-output facility.

Role Overview

The Plant Manager will hold end-to-end responsibility for all aspects of plant operations including production planning, quality control, process optimization, team performance and compliance. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in food manufacturing, a keen eye for detail and the ability to lead both daily operations and long-term strategic improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise plant operations across all departments including production, maintenance, QC, logistics and warehousing
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with corporate goals for efficiency, scalability and compliance
• Oversee manufacturing schedules, ensure optimal resource utilization and prevent downtime
• Ensure strict compliance with food safety regulations and standards (HACCP, ISO, GMP)
• Develop KPIs and performance metrics to track output, waste, labor, efficiency and product quality
• Manage budgets, procurement, coordination and capital expenditures
• Lead the plant's continuous improvement initiatives with a focus on lean manufacturing, automation and workforce productivity
• Foster a safety-first culture, maintaining a clean and secure working environment
• Serve as the main point of contact for internal departments and external regulatory bodies

Candidate Profile

• 12 years of experience in manufacturing with a minimum of 5 years in a senior plant management role within food or FMCG sectors
• Strong technical background in production engineering, food safety systems and quality management
• Proven leadership in managing multidisciplinary teams and scaling operations
• Comfortable with ERP systems, production planning tools and performance dashboards
• Strong business acumen, project management and decision-making capabilities
• Fluent in English; Arabic is advantageous