Plant Manager

ADM; Stafford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in nutrition seeks a Site Manager to lead teams in a new facility focused on food production. You will champion safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability while fostering a positive work culture. Join us to innovate and grow in a diverse environment.

Benefits

Flexible Work Time Models

Career Growth Opportunities

Mental Health Support

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in a senior manufacturing or plant leadership role.
• Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP, and health standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead production and maintenance teams for high-efficiency operations.
• Implement lean manufacturing initiatives to enhance productivity.
• Manage plant assets through preventive maintenance programs.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Communication

Change Management

Education

Degree in Engineering

Degree in Food Technology

Degree in Manufacturing

Tools

ERP Systems

Manufacturing Software

Job description

Operations: Manufacturing, Production, Maintenance, Utilities

Job Description

At ADM, we empower our leaders to make a real difference, harnessing the power of nature to enrich lives on a global scale. This brand new facility specializes in creating bespoke ingredients and solutions for the food, beverage, and nutrition sectors, renowned for its expertise in flavors, colors, and specialty ingredients. As a Site Manager, you will have the opportunity to lead high-performing teams, champion sustainability, and inspire growth, all while being part of a company that values diversity, inclusion, and continuous learning. Join us and unlock your potential to shape the future of food production with innovative products and solutions.

Your Responsibilities

1. Promote a strong safety culture, ensuring all employees are engaged in health and safety practices and that the facility meets or exceeds safety, food safety, and environmental standards.
2. Lead production, maintenance, engineering, and quality assurance teams to deliver high-efficiency, cost-effective operations while meeting strict food safety and quality requirements.
3. Implement and champion lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve reliability.
4. Manage plant assets through preventive maintenance and reliability programs, ensuring equipment integrity and minimizing downtime.
5. Inspire and lead a high-performing team, supporting their professional development and fostering a positive work culture built on trust, respect, and open communication.
6. Identify, propose, and lead capital investment projects to expand capacity, improve safety and efficiency, and support strategic growth.
7. Translate strategic goals into operational plans, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and drive accountability at all levels.
8. Ensure timely and high-quality production to meet customer specifications, support new product development, and collaborate with commercial teams to enhance customer satisfaction.
9. Partner cross-functionally with supply chain, procurement, R&D, and corporate leadership to optimize performance and deliver business objectives.

Your Profile

• Degree in Engineering, Food Technology, Manufacturing, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 5 years in a senior manufacturing or plant leadership role.
• Proven track record of driving operational efficiency and leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience in syrup, sauce, fruit preparation, or similar process-based food production is highly desirable.
• Demonstrable experience managing operations within the food or beverage manufacturing sector.
• Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP, environmental, and health and safety standards.
• Proficiency in continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma)
• Effective leadership, influencing, and change management skills.
• High-level project management, budgeting, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Competency in ERP and manufacturing software systems.

Your Future Perspective

• Challenging tasks, short decision-making processes and a high level of personal responsibility in a modern work environment with flexible work time models
• Room for innovative thinking and growth with the possibility to manage your own career path.
• A company culture which promotes continuous learning and inclusion. To assist with this all colleagues are able to join our Women’s and Multicultural Employee Resource Groups, and the ADM Pride Employee Network and the Young Professionals Network. As well as the company wide mentorship programme as mentor or mentee.
• Excellent career opportunities in a world leading nutrition company.
• An attractive remuneration.

ADM is a company where managers and colleagues are encouraged to discuss and enable the flexibility that is needed to meet the demands of work and life.

ADM are an advocate of having a workforce who are aware of their mental health. In addition to our network of Mental Health First Aiders, all new starters to the business will be enrolled in ‘Mental Health Aware’ training within three months of joining the business.

Learn more about ADM at www.adm.com.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and value diversity at our company to encourage a diverse range of perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge within our business. To assist with this the Company has established a UK Diversity forum to support participation of underrepresented groups in the work place. If you feel this job is for you, unlock your potential and apply now online informing us about your earliest possible entry date and salary expectation. By applying for this position, you agree to ADM’s privacy notice.

#IncludingYou

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments — environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.

For more information regarding our efforts to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, please visit our website here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | ADM.

About ADM

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.