Plant Director

Kellanova Co; Zanesville (IL); On-site; USD 178,000 - 243,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

Kellanova in Zanesville, OH, is seeking a Plant Director to lead the Accelerator division's Zanesville site. You will drive operational excellence across safety, quality, service, cost and talent development, while aligning with brand integration and growth initiatives.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Supply, you will shape the site’s strategy, manage budgets, lead Lean TPM programs, and build a high-performing team across functions to deliver sustained growth and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field.
• Significant manufacturing leadership experience (plant or large unit).
• Proven Lean/Continuous Improvement/Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Strong leadership to inspire and develop teams.
• Experience managing plant financial performance and budgets.
• Excellent problem solving, decision making, and change management.
• Collaborative across functions and levels; union experience a plus.
• Experience in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations to safely deliver production goals with quality, safety, service, and cost excellence.
• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets; improve productivity and reduce waste.
• Champion continuous improvement using Lean, TPM, and problem solving.
• Build and develop a high performing workforce through coaching and succession planning.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, HR to execute strategic priorities and growth.
• Ensure safety, environmental, food safety, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Operational leadership

Budget management

People development

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Change management

Safety & compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

Job description

Who are we?

Accelerator is Mars Snacking's growth engine, focused on unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands. Within Accelerator, the Better For You portfolio includes KIND®, RXBAR®, Nutri-Grain®, Special K Bars®, and Pure Organic® and within Tasty & Wholesome, the portfolio includes Eggo, Rice Krispies Treats, Pop Tarts, and MorningStar Farms. Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a growth business, we are driving innovation, accelerating performance, and transforming how we work through data, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.

We’re looking for passionate collaborators to help us become the foremost leader in Mars Snacking and positively impact society along the way. If you’re looking to be a part of an inspiring, energetic and entrepreneurial environment, you’ve found the right place.

What you’ll do

Reporting to the Senior Director of Supply, the Plant Director leads the Zanesville site for the Accelerator business—the division supporting KIND, Tru Fru, Nature's Bakery, and the newly acquired Kellanova brands. The role is responsible for overall plant performance, driving operational excellence across safety, quality, service, cost, and talent development while ensuring the site is positioned to meet current and future business needs. As the Accelerator division continues to evolve, this role will lead organizational transformation, support brand integration, and build the capabilities, culture, and performance needed to enable sustained growth.

A Taste Of What You’ll Be Doing

• Operational Leadership & Performance Management – Lead all plant operations to safely deliver production goals while maintaining excellence in quality, food safety, service, and cost. Establish performance expectations and hold teams accountable for achieving business objectives.
• Budget Planning & Financial Performance – Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets, ensuring alignment with business priorities. Monitor plant financial performance and identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, and deliver cost savings.
• Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing – Champion continuous improvement initiatives by leveraging Lean, TPM, and problem‑solving methodologies to enhance operational efficiency, equipment reliability, and overall plant performance.
• People Development & Team Leadership – Build, develop, and engage a high‑performing workforce through coaching, succession planning, and talent development. Foster an inclusive culture that values teamwork, accountability, and employee growth.
• Strategic Execution & Cross‑Functional Collaboration – Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, HR, and other business functions to execute strategic priorities, drive innovation, and support business growth while ensuring operational excellence.
• Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance – Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, food safety, and regulatory requirements while promoting a culture where employee safety and product quality are top priorities.

We’re Looking For Someone With

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• Significant manufacturing leadership experience, including experience leading a plant, business unit, or large functional area within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience driving Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, TPM, or Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to inspire, develop, and engage teams.
• Experience managing plant financial performance, including budget development, cost management, and capital planning.
• Excellent problem‑solving, decision‑making, and change management capabilities.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills with the ability to partner effectively across functions and organizational levels.
• Experience in a union manufacturing environment preferred.
• Food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, or related industry experience preferred.

Compensation

The annual salary range is $178,200-$242,880, which is based on various factors such as location, experience and skill. Discretionary bonuses based on company and individual performance are also available.

Get to Know Us

We’ve always been driven to unleash the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our iconic, world‑class brands at Kellanova include Pringles, Cheez‑It, Pop‑Tarts, MorningStar Farms, Special K, Krave, Zucaritas, Tresor, Crunchy Nut, among others.

Mars, Incorporated has acquired Kellanova in a transaction that brings together iconic brands, storied legacies and outstanding capabilities with a view to shape the future of snacking. You can learn more here, and our hiring teams will be happy to discuss further questions if your application advances in the hiring process.

Let’s shape the future of snacking.

Kellanova is an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to provide an inclusive work environment, a seat for everyone at the table, and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information regarding our efforts to advance Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, please visit our website here.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, employee assistance program, short‑term disability coverage, and long‑term disability insurance. Also, voluntary income protection benefits such as supplemental life, accident as well as a 401(k) plan with company contributions is available. Part‑time employees may have access to benefits on a pro‑rated basis. See KellanovaTotalHealth.com for more information.