Assistant Plant Manager

Air Comfort, Inc; Bethlehem (Northampton County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

401K Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short/Long Term Disability

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Gregory Packaging, Inc. in Bethlehem, PA, seeks an Assistant Plant Manager to lead daily operations in a high-speed, fully automated beverage manufacturing facility.

You will supervise production, sanitation, warehouse, and shipping, helping ensure safety, quality, and on-time delivery. This role reports to the Plant Manager and focuses on building strong teams, driving continuous improvement, adhering to GMP and food safety standards, and coordinating with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Sales,

Qualifications

• Associate degree in industrial, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in a fluid pasteurized processing facility preferred; aseptic filling experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily activities across production, sanitation, warehouse, and shipping to ensure smooth operations.
• Oversee plant start-ups/shut-downs and manage operations for fresh, frozen, and aseptic production areas.
• Develop and implement SOPs and training programs; drive continuous improvement and meet KPI targets.
• Lead staffing, coaching, and performance reviews aligned with company policies.
• Ensure safety, GMP, and food safety standards; address non-conformances promptly.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Relocation travel

Education

Associate degree in industrial/ mechanical/ electrical engineering

Tools

Manufacturing systems

Job description

Gregory Packaging, Inc.

https://gregorypackaginginc.com/

Proudly 100% American owned since 1922

Assistant Plant Manager

Department: Management

Location: Bethlehem, PA

Reports to: Plant Manager

Employment Type: Full Time

Work Setting: Manufacturing

Pay Type: Salary

About Gregory Packaging, Inc.

Gregory Packaging Inc. is a highly successful, fourth-generation, family-owned, growth-oriented beverage manufacturer headquartered in Bethlehem, PA, with history dating back to 1922. What began as a seafood business evolved into fruit juice manufacturing in the 1960s, eventually giving rise to the company’s flagship brand, SunCup. Today, Gregory Packaging operates in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, New Jersey, and Arizona, producing quality, all-natural beverages distributed to industries like Health Care, K-12 Care and Education, Elderly Care and Prisons across all 50 states.

Benefits Summary

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401K Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance, Short Term/Long Term Disability, Critical Illness, and more
• 80 hours Paid Time Off annually, rollover allowed, accrued from date of hire
• 7 Paid Holidays
• Weekly Pay, Shift Premiums
• Referral Bonus Program, Employee Discount Program

Position Summary

The Assistant Plant Manager works under the direction of the Plant Manager to lead daily operations in a high-speed, fully automated food and beverage manufacturing plant. This supervisory role oversees production, sanitation, warehouse, and shipping and receiving across fresh, frozen, and aseptic production areas, and leads the plant in the Plant Manager’s absence.

The Assistant Plant Manager is responsible for meeting production, quality, safety, and cost objectives by building and developing strong teams, driving continuous improvement, and working closely with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Sales, and senior leadership.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Plant Operations & Production

• Supervise and coordinate daily activities across production, sanitation, warehouse, and shipping and receiving to ensure smooth, efficient operations.
• Oversee weekly plant start-ups and shut-downs so each transition is timely, organized, and safe.
• Manage day-to-day operations in fresh, frozen, and aseptic production areas, making efficient use of equipment and labor.
• Establish and maintain production and shipping schedules aligned with inventory levels, sales forecasts, and customer orders.
• Ensure product ships on time and within budget for labor hours, machine hours, and material costs.
• Ensure process and equipment capabilities meet or exceed company and industry standards.

Staffing & Team Development

• Manage staffing for all operations departments, including recruiting, onboarding, training, performance reviews, coaching, and terminations, in line with company policies.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and employee training programs.
• Build a team-based culture of accountability, communication, and collaboration among production, materials, and maintenance teams.

Safety, Food Safety & Quality

• Maintain a safe work environment by enforcing safety policies, conducting routine safety audits, and following through on corrective actions.
• Implement and drive food safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) programs, and maintain daily plant cleanliness and organization.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure all product meets quality and food safety standards, addressing non-conformances promptly.
• Work to keep customer complaints below company targets.

Performance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Set monthly, quarterly, and annual benchmarks for case production, shipments, material receipts, work in process, and inventory levels.
• Monitor and achieve operational KPIs, including throughput, downtime, yield, labor and machine efficiency, cost per case, schedule adherence, and waste.
• Ensure employees accurately report labor hours, machine hours, and material usage in the plant’s operations management systems.
• Prepare and present weekly and monthly reports on production, shipping, receiving, inventory, and bill of materials (BOM) variance.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity, reduce waste and costs, and resolve process bottlenecks.
• Participate in weekly production meetings and daily operations meetings.
• Keep the Plant Manager informed of progress and potential problems, and recommend solutions.
• Serve as a link between plant employees and the Director of Operations and executive leadership, supporting company policies, goals, and initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Associate degree in industrial, mechanical, or electrical engineering, or equivalent experience; knowledge of manufacturing engineering and operations management is a plus.
• Experience in a fluid pasteurized processing facility preferred; aseptic filling experience is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Current technical knowledge of products, materials, and equipment used in food processing.
• Ability to manage food processing activities and production lines and provide technical support to plant employees.
• Ability to manage production planning and scheduling, shop loading, expediting and dispatching, purchasing, shipping and receiving, and inventory control using existing manufacturing systems.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to set goals, coach, and develop teams to produce quality product on schedule and within budget.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead and facilitate operations meetings.
• Sound judgment in prioritizing, investigating, and resolving problems in a fast-paced environment.
• High energy, self-motivated, flexible, and ethical, with a high degree of integrity.
• Maintains the confidentiality of company, customer, and employee information.
• Able to travel to and/or relocate to other Gregory Packaging facilities.