Plant Manager

Global Search Network; Albert Lea (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Global Search Network seeks a Plant Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations, driving a safety-first and continuous-improvement culture. You will balance operational efficiency with cost control, delivering reliable customer service and aligning site performance with corporate strategy.

You will champion employee development, lead sustainability and capacity planning, and report on KPIs and capital plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry, food science, manufacturing or related technical field.
• 8+ years of progressive food manufacturing leadership in a regulated environment.
• Proven ability to lead multi-department teams and mentor talent.
• Strong background in production logistics, scheduling, GMP systems; APICS/Lean/Six Sigma certs.
• Excellent change management and cost-focused execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead site safety, food safety and quality initiatives with regulatory compliance.
• Own capacity planning and S&OP; balance schedules with customer requirements.
• Develop, coach, and mentor staff; drive performance reviews and succession planning.
• Track KPIs and drive corrective actions for performance gaps.
• Oversee OpEx/CapEx planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Champion sustainability and lean process optimization.

Skills

Leadership experience

Safety & quality

Lean Six Sigma

Production scheduling

Regulatory compliance

Certifications: APICS/Lean/Six Sigma

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering-related field

Job description

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Food Science, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• Experience: 8+ years of progressive food manufacturing leadership managing in a complex, regulated environment.
• Leadership Capabilities: Proven track record of managing multi-departmental leadership teams, executing system-level changes, and mentoring talent.
• Technical Proficiencies: Strong background in production logistics, scheduling, and GMP systems. APICS, Lean, or Six Sigma certifications.

Position Summary:

The Plant Manager leads day-to-day manufacturing operations, driving an agile, safety-first, and continuous-improvement culture. This role balances operational efficiency and cost management with safe, reliable delivery to meet customer demand. As the site’s key operational leader, you will align plant performance with corporate strategy, champion employee development, and lead site sustainability and capacity planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Lead site-wide safety, food safety, and quality initiatives; enforce a procedures-based culture, regulatory compliance, and rapid CAPA resolution.
• Operational Execution & Capacity: Own site capacity planning and S&OP integration; ensure adherence to production schedules while balancing unit costs against customer requirements.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development: Cultivate a customer-centric, high-performing culture through effective change management, continuous coaching, performance reviews, and succession planning.
• Performance Management: Track site KPIs against business goals, maintaining targeted scorecards and driving corrective action plans for any performance gaps.
• Financial & Strategic Oversight: Develop and manage annual operating (OpEx) and capital expenditure (CapEx) plans.
• Continuous Improvement & Sustainability: Drive site sustainability, waste reduction, and process optimization by leveraging Lean principles and regional/corporate resources.