Interim General Manager - Food Manufacturing

xNorth; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

xNorth is seeking an Interim General Manager to lead a large New York food manufacturing operation (1,000+ employees) through a critical turnaround, with on-site leadership from day one.

You will own plant operations, stabilize performance, and drive rapid improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and labor relations, reporting directly to corporate leadership.

Qualifications

• Senior manufacturing executive with experience as a General Manager, Plant Director, or Operations VP.
• Strong background in food manufacturing or high-volume process manufacturing environments.
• Proven experience leading large operations (1000+ employees).
• Demonstrated turnaround, stabilization, or crisis leadership experience.
• Hands-on, decisive leader with a strong shop-floor presence.
• Comfortable taking full operational control and driving rapid change.
• Prior interim or transformation leadership experience is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Assume full operational and P&L responsibility for the manufacturing site.
• Lead all on-site functions including Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, HR, and HSE.
• Stabilize day-to-day operations and ensure business continuity in a critical environment.
• Diagnose root causes of underperformance and implement rapid corrective actions.
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, service levels, productivity, and cost performance.
• Lead and manage labor relations in a unionized setting, including grievances and negotiations, in collaboration with HR.
• Establish clear priorities, KPIs, and daily management routines to restore execution discipline.
• Assess and strengthen the site leadership team; coach and reinforce frontline management.
• Act as the primary interface with corporate leadership and ownership, providing clear and fact-based reporting.

Job description

Interim General Manager - Food Manufacturing

Interim General Manager – Food Manufacturing

Location: New York, USA

Duration: 6 months

Context

We are supporting a large food manufacturing operation based in New York that is facing a critical operational and performance situation. The site employs approximately 1,000 employees and requires immediate, hands-on executive leadership.

The company is seeking an Interim General Manager to take full ownership of plant operations, stabilize performance, and drive rapid, measurable improvements across safety, quality, productivity, service, and labor relations. This is a turnaround mandate, requiring a strong on-site presence and decisive execution from day one.

Key Responsibilities

• Assume full operational and P&L responsibility for the manufacturing site
• Lead all on-site functions including Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, HR, and HSE
• Stabilize day-to-day operations and ensure business continuity in a critical environment
• Diagnose root causes of underperformance and implement rapid corrective actions
• Drive improvements in safety, quality, service levels, productivity, and cost performance
• Lead and manage labor relations in a unionized setting, including grievances and negotiations, in collaboration with HR
• Establish clear priorities, KPIs, and daily management routines to restore execution discipline
• Assess and strengthen the site leadership team; coach and reinforce frontline management
• Act as the primary interface with corporate leadership and ownership, providing clear and fact-based reporting

Profile

• Senior manufacturing executive with experience as a General Manager, Plant Director, or Operations VP
• Strong background in food manufacturing or high-volume process manufacturing environments
• Proven experience leading large operations (1000+ employees)
• Demonstrated success in turnaround, stabilization, or crisis situations
• Hands-on, decisive leader with a strong shop-floor presence
• Comfortable taking full operational control and driving rapid change
• Prior interim or transformation leadership experience is a strong asset