2nd Shift Plant Manager

Poultry Science Association; Danville (PA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Poultry Science Association is seeking a 2nd Shift Plant Manager to oversee the processing plant during the second shift. You will lead on the floor, manage supervisors and staff, ensure safety, quality, and timely production, and coordinate with People Operations and support departments to protect employees and product integrity.

The role requires strong leadership, a focus on food safety, and the ability to handle investigations, documentation, and handoffs between shifts.

Qualifications

• Must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Leadership experience in a food processing/manufacturing setting preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise hourly employees and shift leaders.
• Strong knowledge of safety, sanitation, quality systems, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Own second-shift plant performance across safety, staffing, production flow, quality, sanitation, and downtime.
• Lead on the production floor with routine walk-throughs and risk identification.
• Plan labor and work assignments based on production needs and overtime considerations.
• Set clear expectations for supervisors and ensure consistent coaching and accountability.
• Complete shift handoffs with production status, staffing, equipment, and follow‑ups.

Skills

People leadership

Shift supervision

Production planning

Safety compliance

Food safety awareness

Bilingual English/Spanish (helpful)

Effective communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate or Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Timekeeping systems

Production reporting software

Job description

Job Title: 2nd Shift Plant Manager

Reports to: COO

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Onsite – Danville, Pa

Job Summary:

The 2nd Shift Plant Manager is accountable for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of the processing plant during second shift. This role provides visible floor leadership, directs employees and shift leaders, maintains production and quality expectations, responds promptly to equipment and staffing issues, and ensures accurate documentation and a complete handoff to the next shift. The Plant Manager is expected to address employee matters at the management level, partner with People Operations and other support departments, and make sound decisions that protect employees, food safety, animal welfare, product quality, and business continuity.

Responsibilities:

• Own second-shift plant performance, including safety, staffing, production flow, product quality, sanitation, housekeeping, and completion of scheduled work.
• Remain present and engaged on the production floor; conduct routine walk-throughs, verify expectations, identify risks, and correct concerns promptly.
• Plan labor and work assignments based on production needs, employee qualifications, call-offs, breaks, and operational priorities while managing overtime responsibly.
• Set clear expectations for supervisors, leads, and employees; provide coaching, follow‑up, recognition, and accountability in a respectful and consistent manner.
• Monitor attendance, punctuality, timekeeping, and adherence to schedules. Confirm facts and available records before recommending corrective action and obtain People Operations review before discipline is issued.
• Take initial ownership of employee concerns and workplace incidents by stabilizing the situation, separating involved employees when appropriate, gathering timely factual statements, preserving relevant information, and escalating promptly to People Operations.
• Enforce company policies and required practices consistently, including PPE, machine safety, lockout/tagout, forklift and pedestrian controls, biosecurity, sanitation, tobacco‑free workplace, cellphone use, and drug‑and alcohol‑free workplace requirements.
• Immediately report injuries, near misses, unsafe conditions, food‑safety concerns, quality deviations, environmental concerns, and significant operational disruptions; ensure required response steps and documentation are completed.
• Coordinate with Maintenance on equipment failures and preventive needs; communicate the operational impact, support safe shutdown and lockout procedures, and document downtime, actions taken, and unresolved issues.
• Verify required production, quality, sanitation, inventory, downtime, staffing, and safety records are accurate, complete, and submitted before the end of the shift.
• Complete a clear shift handoff covering production status, staffing, equipment, quality, safety, employee matters, and priority follow‑up items; elevate urgent issues directly rather than relying solely on written notes.
• Support onboarding, job training, cross‑training, probationary check‑ins, and performance reviews; confirm employees are trained and authorized before independently performing assigned work.
• Partner effectively with Processing, Maintenance, Warehouse, Transportation, Quality/Food Safety, People Operations, and senior operations leadership to resolve issues and maintain continuity.
• Protect confidentiality, exercise good judgment, and communicate professionally across shifts and departments.
• Perform other duties and respond to operational needs as assigned.

Preferred Experience:

• Three or more years of progressive leadership experience in food processing, manufacturing, agriculture, warehousing, or a comparable production environment; poultry or egg-processing experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience supervising hourly employees and shift leaders in a fast‑paced, safety‑sensitive operation.
• Working knowledge of production planning, employee relations, performance management, incident response, sanitation, quality systems, and continuous improvement.
• Strong judgment, follow‑through, organization, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use email, timekeeping, production, and reporting systems and to maintain accurate records.
• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills are helpful but not required.

Education And Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in operations, business, food science, agriculture, safety, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent relevant leadership and operational experience may be considered in place of postsecondary education.
• Required company, safety, food‑safety, and equipment training must be completed and maintained.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly supervises assigned second‑shift supervisors, leads, and plant employees and is accountable for shift‑wide direction and results.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with company policy and applicable law, including work assignment, training, coaching, performance evaluation, documentation, recognition, and corrective‑action recommendations in partnership with People Operations.
• Ensures supervisors and leads fulfill their responsibilities and appropriately escalate matters requiring additional authority or support.

Physical Requirements:

• Regularly works onsite during second shift and must be able to respond to operational needs throughout the assigned shift, including occasional extended hours, weekends, holidays, or emergency coverage as business needs require.
• Frequently stands and walks for extended periods and may bend, reach, climb stairs, and move through production, warehouse, dock, and equipment areas.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be able to work around moving machinery, forklifts, noise, dust, odors, wet or slippery surfaces, temperature variation, cleaning chemicals, poultry or egg products, and other conditions typical of an agricultural food‑processing facility.
• Must wear required PPE and comply with all safety, sanitation, food‑safety, and biosecurity requirements.
• Must be able to communicate effectively, review records and screens, and respond promptly to alarms, hazards, and changing operating conditions.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.