Plant Manager

Clark Resources; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Clark Resources in Chicago seeks a Plant Manager to lead a large unionized facility across three shifts, accountable for safety, quality, production, and cost performance. You will steer roughly 1,000 employees via a team of senior operational leaders to meet ambitious objectives.

The ideal candidate balances day-to-day execution with long‑term strategy, capital planning, and continuous improvement. You will cultivate strong teams, manage labor relations, and drive measurable gains in yield,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in a related field (Business/Operations/Engineering/Supply Chain).
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience leading a large hourly workforce in a unionized environment.
• USDA- and/or FDA-regulated food manufacturing experience.
• Proven ability to drive efficiency, yield, and cost improvements.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for plant operations to meet safety, quality, productivity, customer service, and financial objectives.
• Plan and direct day-to-day manufacturing across three shifts with high execution standards.
• Maximize throughput while reducing waste, costs, and variability.
• Maintain accountability for output, quality, inventory, yield, and on-time shipment.
• Develop and execute plant strategies aligned with company goals and growth.
• Establish KPIs and monitor productivity and financial performance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Labor relations

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Operations Management/Engineering/Supply Chain

Tools

Redzone software

Job description

The Plant Manager will provide overall leadership for a large, unionized manufacturing facility operating across three shifts. This individual will be accountable for safety, quality, production, employee engagement, labor relations, customer service, productivity, and cost performance. The role leads approximately 1,000 employees through a team of senior operational leaders.

The successful candidate will be a decisive, visible leader who anticipates operational and workforce risks, develops strong teams, and drives measurable improvements in efficiency, yield, waste reduction, and service. This position requires the ability to balance day-to-day execution with long-term strategy, capital planning, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for plant operations to achieve safety, quality, productivity, customer service, and financial objectives.
• Plan, organize, and direct day-to-day manufacturing activities across three shifts while maintaining high standards for execution and customer satisfaction.
• Maximize throughput, capacity, efficiency, and operational flexibility while reducing waste, unnecessary costs, and production variability.
• Maintain accountability for production output, product quality, inventory management, yield, labor utilization, and on-time shipment performance.
• Develop and execute plant operating strategies aligned with broader company goals and growth initiatives.
• Establish, monitor, and improve key performance indicators, productivity metrics, operating standards, and financial performance measures.
• Analyze operating data to identify trends, capacity constraints, overtime drivers, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts that increase productivity, improve yields, reduce waste, and strengthen overall plant performance.
• Proactively identify operational, safety, quality, labor, staffing, and customer-service risks and implement effective corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and all applicable food safety, quality, GMP, USDA, FDA, and regulatory requirements.
• Build a culture centered on safety, accountability, teamwork, employee engagement, and operational excellence.
• Recruit, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team, ensuring the right talent is in place throughout the organization.
• Set clear expectations and hold leaders accountable for performance, attendance, employee engagement, and achievement of operating goals.
• Manage employee relations matters and grievances fairly and consistently in accordance with company policies and collective bargaining agreements.
• Maintain constructive labor-management relationships and provide effective leadership within a unionized environment.
• Partner cross-functionally with Maintenance, Quality, Safety, Human Resources, Purchasing, and other business leaders.
• Make timely decisions involving personnel, production priorities, resource allocation, process improvements, and capital investment.
• Support capital projects, facility expansion, new product introductions, and other strategic business initiatives.
• Remain available to support weekend, off-shift, and emergency operating needs as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including significant responsibility for plant-level operations.
• Proven success as a Plant Manager or senior operations leader within a large, labor-intensive manufacturing environment.
• USDA- and/or FDA-regulated food manufacturing experience required.
• Experience leading a large hourly workforce in a unionized environment required.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, safety programs, quality systems, food safety, inventory control, productivity management, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, strategic planning, workforce planning, resource allocation, and operational financial management.
• Proven ability to improve efficiency, increase yield, reduce waste, manage labor effectively, and deliver measurable business results.
• Strong business judgment and the ability to make difficult decisions in a fast-paced operating environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, develop talent, resolve conflict, and create accountability at all levels.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and labor-relations skills.
• Experience with Redzone or a similar connected-worker or manufacturing software platform preferred.
• Strong computer and technology skills, along with high standards of integrity and professionalism.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in both office and manufacturing environments, including production areas.
• The role requires frequent time on the production floor and the ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and crouch for extended periods.
• Must be able to work independently, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility to support operational needs outside standard business hours, including weekends and emergencies, is required.