Plant Director

LE1 See’s Candy Shops, Incorporated; United States; On-site; USD 187,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) eligibility

Vacation and sick time

Parental leave

Job summary

See’s Candies is seeking a Plant Manager to provide strategic and hands-on leadership for three regional manufacturing facilities, overseeing Production, Packaging, and Maintenance to deliver high-quality candy.

The role emphasizes operational excellence, culture of ownership, and cross-functional collaboration with Safety, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering teams in a dynamic, nationwide environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in progressive leadership roles within food manufacturing.
• Experience leading multiple plants is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate day-to-day production and packaging across regional plants.
• Develop leadership talent with KPI-driven performance metrics.
• Promote a high-performance culture and change management.
• Deploy TPM, Lean and Six Sigma to reduce waste and improve OEE.
• Ensure safety, food safety (HACCP, GMP, SQF) and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate on production planning and cross-functional initiatives.
• Oversee capital projects and engineering coordination.
• Labor relations with union discussions and negotiations.
• Support new product introductions and seasonal launches.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Change management

Leadership

Communication

Education

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

Job description

Work is Sweet! 'Quality without Compromise' is not just a motto at See’s Candies. It is the most important ingredient in our recipe for success. See’s Candies has been in business since 1921 and maintains a reputation for producing the highest quality candy and providing superior customer service. See’s is a leader in the confectionery industry with over 250 retail shops across the USA, a growing e-commerce business, and expanding opportunities internationally. We are seeking friendly, enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about helping us grow and thrive in our second century.

Job Description Summary: POSITION OBJECTIVE: The Plant Manager provides strategic and hands‑on leadership for three regional manufacturing facilities, overseeing all aspects of Production, Packaging, and Maintenance operations. This role ensures the consistent delivery of high‑quality products to See's selling divisions, while driving operational excellence and developing a culture of ownership, accountability and empowerment and collaborating with cross‑functional stakeholders. The pay range for this position is expected to be $187,000- $220,000k annually; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Multi‑Plant Operational Leadership Lead, direct, and coordinate day‑to‑day production and packaging operations across both regional manufacturing sites. Ensure output meets quality standards, production plans, and cost targets.
• Team Development and Performance Management Develop leadership talent, enables and fosters a culture of ownership, accountability. Responsible for on sight succession planning. Manage site leadership teams; establish and develop goals, KPIs, and performance metrics to drive Safety, Quality, Service and Cost.
• Change Leadership and Culture Development Lead cultural transformation by promoting a high‑performance, inclusive environment. Embed change management best practices to ensure sustainable adoption of improvements and organizational alignment.
• Continuous Improvement Champion and deploy TPM, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies to reduce waste, increase OEE, and drive operational efficiency. Responsible to deliver strategic CI plans and results for sites. Partner with SME and Plant Manager of San Francisco to standardize CI approach across See’s manufacturing sites.
• Compliance Leadership Ensure strict adherence to workplace safety, food safety (HACCP, GMP, SQF), and environmental regulations. Collaborate with SME to implement and monitor the workplace safety and food safety programs. Ensure plant operations are compliant with applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Production Planning and Materials Coordination In partnership with Planning, ensure alignment of production schedules with inventory goals, raw material availability, and customer demand. Collaborate with Logistics on efficient material flow and finished goods distribution.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration Serve as primary operational interface for cross‑functional partners in Safety, Quality, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Engineering, Finance, R&D and Marketing. Support new product introductions, seasonal launches, and product transitions through effective change management and cross‑departmental coordination.
• Capital Projects and Engineering Coordination Collaborate with facility infrastructure team. Partner with Engineering on equipment and utilities upgrades, installations, and commissioning to meet capacity and innovation needs.
• Labor Relations Represent sites in union discussions and negotiations in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Other Responsibilities Manage special projects and strategic initiatives as assigned by senior leadership. Contribute to enterprise‑level strategy and operations benchmarking with other See’s locations.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience: Minimum 10 years in progressive leadership roles within food manufacturing; multi‑plant leadership experience preferred.
• Continuous Improvement Expertise: Deep working knowledge of TPM, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma practices with a track record of measurable success.
• Change Management: Demonstrated success managing organizational and operational change, technology adoption, and cultural transformation.
• Leadership & Communication: Excellent management and leadership skills; capable of motivating plant employees from all departments at all levels and with diverse cultural backgrounds
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent work experience may be considered.

The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, in addition to a full range of generous medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at‑will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

See's is an EOE See’s will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable local, state or federal law (including San Francisco Ordinance #131192 and Los Angeles Municipal Code 189.00).

Welcome to See's Candies where every career choice is as delightful as our candy! Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your journey, you've come to the right place to satisfy your career cravings. From crafting irresistible confections to spreading joy to customers, every role at See's Candies is a chance to make a difference and leave a lasting impression.

Like a Box of Chocolates, we believe that variety is the spice of life, and it takes many unique individuals working together to reach our common goals.

At See's, teamwork is the secret ingredient. For over 100 years, See's Candies has been dedicated to making candy Mary See's way; helping to make the world a sweeter place, one piece of candy at a time.

See's has grown from one shop to over 240 shops across America, plus a flourishing online store, without ever compromising on the best tasting, highest quality candy around.