ASSISTANT PLANT MANAGER

KENT WORLDWIDE; Bolingbrook (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k

Job summary

KENT Worldwide is seeking an Assistant Plant Manager to oversee daily operations at its Bolingbrook, IL facility. You will drive production schedules, lead Production Supervisors, ensure safety and quality, and collaborate with QA, maintenance, and procurement to meet cost and performance targets.

The role is salaried with a comprehensive benefits package and reports to the Plant Manager. A strong background in GMP/HACCP, plus leadership experience in food manufacturing, is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in food or beverage manufacturing, preferably in dry blending or powder-based production.
• Proven leadership and team management skills, including managing Production Supervisors.
• Strong knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulations.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Proficient in ERP systems (AX/D365) and Microsoft Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate all aspects of the production process, ensuring timely and accurate execution of production schedules.
• Supervise and support Production and Sanitation Supervisors and their teams; provide coaching and development.
• Collaborate with Quality teams to ensure products meet safety and quality standards.
• Identify lean manufacturing improvements to increase efficiency and reduce waste.
• Maintain production records, generate reports, and participate in audits and inspections.
• Monitor material usage and coordinate with procurement to avoid overstocking.
• Coordinate plant shutdowns with maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, GMP standards.
• Stay informed on operations management trends and technologies.
• Assist with recruiting and onboarding new department members.
• Identify training needs and ensure delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Team management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

5+ years in food/beverage manufacturing

Tools

Microsoft AX

D365

MS Office

Job description

Are you ready to join a SIX-TIME US Best Managed Company? KENT Worldwide™, a family of companies committed to excellence and innovation? We are seeking a highly organized and results-driven Assistant Plant Manager to oversee daily operations at our manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for ensuring efficient production processes, maintaining high-quality standards, and leading a team including Production Supervisors to meet production goals in a safe and cost-effective manner.

• This is a salaried position with a complete benefit package reporting to the Plant Manager.
• The compensation range for this role is $110,000 to $140,000, in addition to KENT standard benefits (health, dental, vision, 401k). Final compensation is subject to variation based on the candidate's skills, job responsibilities, location and other pertinent factors.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and coordinate all aspects of the production process, ensuring timely and accurate execution of production schedules.
• Supervise and support Production and Sanitation Supervisors and their teams. Provide coaching, performance feedback, and development opportunities to ensure high team performance and morale.
• Collaborate with Quality teams to ensure all products meet company and regulatory standards for safety, quality, and consistency.
• Identify and implement lean manufacturing process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and lower production costs.
• Maintain accurate production records, generate performance reports, and participate in audits and inspections.
• Monitor raw material usage and coordinate with procurement to ensure adequate inventory levels without overstocking.
• Coordinate plant shutdowns in coordination with maintenance.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, GMP’s and other applicable regulatory bodies.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies and trends in operations management.
• Assist with recruiting, selecting and onboarding new department members.
• Identify training needs and ensure proper development and delivery.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of experience in food or beverage manufacturing, preferably in dry blending or powder-based production
• Proven leadership and team management skills, including experience managing Production Supervisors
• Strong knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulations
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Proficient in Microsoft AX, D365, or comparable ERP systems, as well as Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.