Dairy Plant Operations Leader

Open Gates Group; Wellman (IA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Gates Group in Kalona, IA, is seeking a hands-on Plant Operations Manager to lead our dairy production manufacturing efforts on the production floor. You will drive safety, quality, and efficiency through data‑driven decisions, develop people, translate operational data into actionable improvements, and partner with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, R&D, and HR to hit KPI targets.

This leadership role requires visible presence, strong communication, and a commitment to continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher is preferred in a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership in dairy, food manufacturing, or fluid processing.
• Strong knowledge of GMP, HACCP, SQF, OSHA, FDA, USDA.
• Excellent communication and leadership presence.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and coordination for plant operations.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production teams.
• Drive safety, quality, and operational excellence on the production floor.
• Oversee daily plant operations and production schedules to meet demand.
• Develop KPIs and analyze data to drive improvements.
• Lead root cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

KPI analytics

Communication

Process improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Agriculture, Engineering, Operations, or related field

Job description

Open Gates Group in Kalona, IA, is seeking a hands-on Plant Operations Manager to lead our dairy production manufacturing efforts on the production floor. You will drive safety, quality, and efficiency through data‑driven decisions, develop people, translate operational data into actionable improvements, and partner with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, R&D, and HR to hit KPI targets.

This leadership role requires visible presence, strong communication, and a commitment to continuous