Plant Manager

ApplicantPool; Burgaw (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Cardinal Foods in Burgaw, NC is seeking a Plant Manager to oversee daily production/processing and maintenance, shaping operations strategy with ownership and driving efficiency, safety and cost control.

You will lead a lean, hands-on team, implement GMP and safety standards, optimize processes, manage budgets and staffing, and partner with management to hit growth goals. The role requires strong leadership and the ability to sustain a family‑oriented, coastal work environment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of operations management experience.
• Experience leading production and maintenance teams.
• Strong track record implementing Lean and GMP practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee production/processing and maintenance operations.
• Lead and develop operations staff and supervisors.
• Implement lean principles to reduce costs while ensuring quality.
• Maintain safety standards and GMP compliance.
• Develop annual objectives for the operations department.
• Collaborate with management to optimize capital deployment.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Production management

Safety compliance

Budgeting

Staff development

Job description

Cardinal Foods a domestic Marketer, Manufacturer and Distributor of traditional, specialty and value-added fruit and vegetable ingredients. These products are currently manufactured in North Carolina with a short-term eye on growth in the southeast and then to other concentrated growing areas nationally. CF may also be engaging in other complimentary business ventures as the opportunities arise in the future.

It is the intention of management to grow the business revenue exponentially within five years. This growth will come via customer demand in various channels, participating in both traditionally available products and new products aligned with the global food growth trends (e.g. healthy eating, cleaner label). Team, product and processes are critical to our success as we are recruiting high performers with extensive experience that can perform and manage multiple functional responsibilities.

Our lean organizational structure, headquartered in Burgaw, NC and doing business there, will allow CF to control cost and achieve its profitability targets. As a lean organization, it is required that we maintain a collaborative work environment with focus and dedication to achieving the desired results. The goal of CF is to build a team of members who are honest, hardworking and show ability even without experience as these characteristics will enable our company to continue to prosper and remain at the top of the industry. With our location close to the coast, we exemplify a laid back, family-oriented environment that truly encourages productivity and innovation.

Job Description:

The Plant Manager is responsible for overseeing all day to day operations of the company including but not limited to production/processing, maintenance. Must manage all the human, financial and material resources of the department. This role will operate at a strategic level working with ownership to drive the company towards its goals, and growth while identifying opportunities that present return on deployed capital. Manages the operations department, supervises and ensures the structuring and implementation of processes in order to create and maintain a safe work environment and to optimize the operational efficiency of the organization.

Focus Points:

• Provide leadership through a hands‑on approach for the overall day to day operations of the facilities.
• Build and train a team of members who are driven and understand the key performance indicators and economic engines of the business.
• Implement lean principles to achieve low cost production and high quality through each phase of the production process.
• Support the development of a healthy internal culture that retinas key employees and encourages their professional development.
• Makes innovative and realistic recommendations to Management aimed at improving and optimizing all activities related to the operations of the company.
• Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
• Maintains all safety standards as consistent with Federal, State and company requirements.
• The role also prepares for and performs the maintenance of the facility, including machine repair and cleaning/sanitation, and develops and enforces standard procedures in worker safety and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
• In collaboration with Management, prepare general annual objectives for the operations department;

Supervision of staff within the operations department:

• Supervises the work of supervisors of the department;
• Responsible for the overall operational efficiency of operations (loss of time, loss of materials, sound management of the workforce), in accordance with policies;
• Ensures the quality of work from the entire operations department according to internal procedures and company requirements.

Staffing :

• Determines the personnel requirements of the operations department;
• Participate in or follow the process of hiring staff in the operations department;
• Ensures the proper integration of new employees in the operations department.

Labor relations :

• Participates in the foreground in the disciplinary aspect of his team (management and / or performance gap);
• Responsible for labor relations within his department

Performance :

• Called upon to make final recommendations to management regarding performance reviews of operations staff

TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Security

• Responsible for ensuring that work areas are safe and comply with the laws to this effect;
• Ensures that work equipment is functional and safe;
• Ensures that employees adopt safe behaviors at all times when in production areas.

Production

• Ensures effective and efficient management of all resources allocated to production to complete deliverables;
• Acts as a resource person for supervisors under his responsibility;
• Responsible for meeting prescribed production deadlines as well as qualitative and budgetary standards;
• Responsible for product quality compliance.

Internal Control

• Defined production programs and procedures, notably by developing technical specifications that reflect the needs of the business;
• Defined with the various departments of the company the points of vigilance to ensure internal control of operations.

OTHERS :

• Establishes and monitors performance indicators in order to measure the performance of the production process as a whole and optimize its efficiency in a spirit of continuous improvement and rigorous cost control;
• Develops various productivity analysis reports for his department;
• Performs any other task entrusted to him by his immediate superior or aimed at meeting the specific expectations that may be communicated to him by the latter.

What You'll Need to Succeed:

• Efficient and fast with a drive to get things done
• Analytical, organized, accurate, and thorough
• Ability to meet deadlines while managing/prioritizing multiple tasks
• Ability to work effectively with others
• Ability to work extended hours as business requires

Requirements:

• Minimum of 15 years of experience
• Flexibility to work different shifts and days when required