Assistant Plant Manager

Illinois Ag; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Job summary

Illinois Ag in Bolingbrook, IL is seeking an Assistant Plant Manager to lead daily production and sanitation operations at its food manufacturing facility. You will manage Production and Sanitation Supervisors, drive continuous improvement, and ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, and FDA standards.

The role reports to the Plant Manager and offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and a 401(k).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in food, beverage, pharma or CPG manufacturing.
• Experience leading Production Supervisors and teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily production activities to meet schedules accurately and efficiently.
• Supervise Production and Sanitation Supervisors and teams, providing coaching and feedback.
• Collaborate with Quality teams to ensure food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead lean manufacturing initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Maintain production records, generate performance reports, and participate in audits.
• Monitor material usage and coordinate with procurement to manage inventory.

Skills

Leadership

Team Management

GMP

HACCP

ERP systems

Communication

Problem Solving

Organizational Skills

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Business

Tools

Microsoft AX

Dynamics 365 (D365)

Job description

Job Description

An established manufacturing organization is seeking a highly organized and results-driven Assistant Plant Manager to oversee daily operations at its manufacturing facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois. This position is responsible for managing production activities, ensuring efficient manufacturing processes, maintaining product quality and food safety standards, and leading Production and Sanitation Supervisors and their teams to achieve operational goals safely and cost-effectively. The Assistant Plant Manager will drive continuous improvement, optimize resource utilization, reduce waste, and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will have strong leadership and problem-solving skills, experience managing production teams in a food or beverage manufacturing environment, and the ability to improve operational performance while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and productivity.

This salaried position reports to the Plant Manager and offers a competitive compensation package, including health, dental, vision, and 401(k) benefits.

Principal / Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate daily production activities to ensure production schedules are executed accurately, efficiently, and on time.
• Supervise and support Production and Sanitation Supervisors and their teams, providing coaching, performance feedback, and development opportunities to strengthen employee performance and morale.
• Partner with Quality teams to ensure products consistently meet established company standards and applicable regulatory requirements for food safety, quality, and product consistency.
• Identify and implement lean manufacturing initiatives and process improvements to increase operational efficiency, reduce waste, improve productivity, and lower manufacturing costs.
• Maintain accurate production records, prepare performance reports, monitor key operational metrics, and participate in audits and inspections.
• Monitor raw material usage and coordinate with procurement to maintain adequate inventory levels while minimizing excess inventory and material waste.
• Coordinate plant shutdowns in collaboration with Maintenance to support equipment servicing, planned maintenance activities, and operational readiness.
• Ensure compliance with applicable OSHA, FDA, GMP, HACCP, food safety, and other regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, manufacturing practices, and operational trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Assist with recruiting, selecting, onboarding, and integrating new employees into the organization.
• Identify employee training needs and ensure appropriate training programs are developed and delivered to support job performance, safety, quality, and operational effectiveness.
• Work cross-functionally with Maintenance, Quality, Sanitation, Supply Chain, and other departments to resolve operational issues and achieve plant objectives.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 5+ years of experience in food, beverage, pharma or CPG manufacturing.
• Demonstrated leadership and team management experience, including direct oversight of Production Supervisors.
• Strong knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP, food safety standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience with Microsoft AX, Dynamics 365 (D365), or comparable ERP systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, support continuous improvement initiatives, and drive results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Additional Information

Email: cpaisley irgsolution.com

Subject Assistant Plant Manager- Naperville, IL

Meet Your Recruiter

Craig Paisley