Plant Director - Sous Vide Manufacturing Leader

Cuisine Solutions; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Cuisine Solutions in Sterling, VA is seeking a Plant Director to lead a high-volume sous vide operation. You will oversee plant operations, safety, quality, and continuous improvement, ensuring adherence to GMP, food safety standards, and production schedules.

This role manages up to 30 salaried staff and up to 500 hourly employees, partners with HR on staffing, and reports to the Vice President of Operations.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of progressive leadership in manufacturing/plant operations, sous vide specialization.
• 3+ years of production management experience.
• Experience handling sous vide industry audits (customer, OSHA, SQF).
• Knowledge of GMP and food safety standards (temperature, time, metal detection, labeling).
• Ability to drive production across multiple preparation and packaging steps.
• Proven track record of high-performing plant leadership and staff development.
• Values of honesty, integrity, teamwork, accountability, and performance.
• Strong organizational, technical, quality, safety, and environmental skills related to facilities operation.

Responsibilities

• Leads manufacturing facility to achieve operational excellence standards, business goals and objectives.
• Manages a team of up to 30 salaried employees, including Managers and Assistant Managers, as well as hourly workforce up to 500 employees.
• Directs the ordering and upkeep of building, material handling equipment and inventory.
• Supports, builds, and continues initiatives for improvement in safety, quality, productivity and cost.
• Implements and reinforces operational policies and procedures throughout production processes to ensure that execution meets standards and expectations while adhering to food safety, customer expectations, productivity, and cost requirements.
• Directs and coordinates plant functions to assure common direction toward plant goals.
• Guides and supports the plant quality system in procedures and controls to improve overall customer satisfaction.
• Proactively responds to all facets of customer satisfaction including delivery, schedule changes and special instructions.
• Supervises internal factory sanitation staff, and provides direction to 3rd party sanitation staff regarding production plans and cleaning needs.
• Uses company ERP systems to review production records, to track and analyze material usage, and to accurately manage inventory.
• Plans weekly production requirements and schedules employees to meet customer demand and minimize labor expenses and overtime.
• Collaborates with VP of Operations to identify staffing needs based on scheduling demands.
• Coordinates hiring/promoting of team members with Human Resources.
• Provides regular feedback to team members regarding their performance, recognizing excellence and areas needing improvement.
• Provides coaching to those who need additional help to improve performance.
• Responds to questions regarding raw materials, partially prepped food, and completed food not meeting Cuisine Solutions approved quality standards.
• Works with other departments to identify personnel and food safety issues and to take appropriate actions.
• Responds to production problems such as equipment failures, recipe questions, or noncompliance with approved quality standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned by management.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

ERP systems

Team management

Quality and safety

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Cuisine Solutions in Sterling, VA is seeking a Plant Director to lead a high-volume sous vide operation. You will oversee plant operations, safety, quality, and continuous improvement, ensuring adherence to GMP, food safety standards, and production schedules.

This role manages up to 30 salaried staff and up to 500 hourly employees, partners with HR on staffing, and reports to the Vice President of Operations.