Plant Manager

Elevate Ag, LLC; Herington (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

Phone stipend

Boot and clothing allowance

Health insurance stipend

Job summary

Elevate Ag, LLC is seeking a Plant Manager for our Herington, Kansas facility. You will oversee day-to-day production, blending, warehouse, and shipping in a lean operation while leading the expansion of staff as the business grows.

You will ensure batches are produced safely, accurately, and on schedule, maintain quality and regulatory standards for biological products, and collaborate with ownership, sales, and R&D to keep the plant running efficiently.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; degree preferred.
• 3+ years in plant, manufacturing or warehouse supervision, agricultural/biological products preferred.
• Forklift certification or willingness to obtain it.
• Proficiency with Excel and Zoho or similar ERP systems.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot production equipment.
• Clear communication and leadership to guide a growing team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day plant functions with planned growth of staff.
• Set production priorities based on sales orders and schedules.
• Build a culture of accountability, safety and attention to detail.
• Coordinate staffing, capital equipment, and facility improvements with leadership.
• Recruit, train and supervise production, warehouse and shipping staff.
• Lead performance reviews and set clear expectations for team members.
• Maintain blending/formulation of liquids and dry products per recipes.
• Calibrate and maintain blending tanks, pumps, scales and packaging gear.
• Troubleshoot equipment and coordinate outside repairs as needed.
• Maintain inventory accuracy in Zoho and coordinate order fulfillment timing.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Communication skills

Team leadership

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Excel

Zoho

Forklift certification

Job description

Elevate Ag is a biological agricultural products company headquartered in Herington, Kansas, owned by a small group of partners with backgrounds in farming and agricultural retail. The company develops and manufactures biological products that help farmers build healthier, more productive soil and improve crop performance. Elevate Ag is a growing company, and this role offers the opportunity to help shape the plant's operations and systems as the business expands.

Position Summary

The Plant Manager is responsible for the day to day operation of Elevate Ag's Herington, Kansas manufacturing and warehouse facility, where the company produces biological agricultural products. This role currently operates as the sole full-time employee at the plant, personally handling production, blending, warehouse, and shipping tasks, with the expectation of hiring and leading additional staff as the company grows. The Plant Manager makes sure every batch is produced safely, accurately, and on schedule, maintains quality and regulatory standards for biological products, and works closely with ownership, sales, and R&D to keep the facility running efficiently.

Plant Operations and Team Growth

• Personally manage all day to day plant functions, since the position currently has no other full-time plant staff to delegate to.
• Set daily and weekly production priorities based on sales orders, inventory levels, and formulation schedules.
• Build a culture of accountability, safety, and attention to detail in all plant work.
• Coordinate with ownership and the COO on staffing needs, capital equipment, and facility improvements as the plant grows.
• Help recruit, train, and eventually supervise production, warehouse, and shipping staff as Elevate Ag adds employees at the plant.
• Once additional staff are hired, conduct regular performance reviews and set clear expectations for each team member.

Technical and Operational Capabilities

• Apply basic math skills, including metric system conversions.
• Demonstrate mechanical aptitude to perform maintenance, minor repairs or replace plant equipment as required.
• Successfully complete job performance and readiness assessments.
• Utilize various software platforms, including Excel and Zoho, to maintain accurate organizational records.
• Oversee blending and formulation of liquid and dry biological products according to established recipes.
• Calibrate and maintain blending tanks, pumps, scales, and packaging equipment.
• Troubleshoot equipment issues and coordinate outside repairs when needed.

Warehouse Operations and Inventory Management

• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work space.
• Receive, count, verify, and inspect incoming inventory for defects or damage.
• Promptly report any inventory discrepancies or errors to appropriate personnel.
• Mark, label, and store stock in an accessible and orderly manner.
• Load, unload, and secure delivery vehicles and palletized goods.
• Operate forklifts and electric pallet jacks to build and transfer loads efficiently.
• Maintain accurate raw material and finished goods inventory counts in Zoho or the company's inventory system.
• Coordinate with the sales team on order fulfillment timing and shipping priorities.

Quality Control and Biological Product Handling

• Follow standard operating procedures for handling live or fermented biological ingredients, including proper storage temperature and shelf life tracking.
• Maintain batch records and lot traceability from raw material through finished product and shipment.
• Pull samples and coordinate lab testing to confirm product quality before release, including microbial counts where applicable.
• Monitor storage conditions, including temperature-controlled or refrigerated storage for temperature-sensitive biologicals.
• Identify and quarantine any off-spec or contaminated product, and document corrective action.
• Maintain clean-in-place or sanitation procedures for tanks and mixing equipment to prevent cross-contamination between batches.

Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Enforce OSHA safety standards and maintain required safety training records for all plant employees.
• Maintain Safety Data Sheets and labeling accuracy for all products handled or produced on site.
• Support compliance with state and federal registration requirements for biological and biopesticide products.
• Maintain a safe chemical and biological storage program, including proper separation of incompatible materials.
• Lead or participate in regular safety meetings and incident reporting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in agriculture, biology, or a related field preferred.
• Three or more years of plant, manufacturing, or warehouse supervisory experience, agricultural or biological products experience preferred.

• Forklift certification, or willingness to obtain certification.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and general comfort learning inventory or ERP software such as Zoho.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort troubleshooting production equipment.
• Ability to lift fifty pounds regularly and work in a warehouse and production environment that includes exposure to varying temperatures.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to lead a team with clear expectations and consistent follow through.

Plant Manager – Pay and Compensation Package

Elevate Ag, LLC – Herington, Kansas

Starting base salary will fall within a range of $55,000 to $75,000 per year, based on the candidate's experience, mechanical background, and prior work in manufacturing or agricultural operations. The starting point for a candidate with limited relevant experience will likely be near the lower to middle part of this range, with room to grow as the candidate proves their fit and takes on more responsibility.

Monthly contribution toward the employee's individual health insurance, since Elevate Ag does not currently offer a group health plan.

• A monthly phone stipend or company-supplied cell phone option.
• A boot and work clothing allowance to help cover appropriate footwear and attire for the role.

Profit Sharing

This position is eligible to participate in Elevate Ag's profit sharing program, which is tied directly to overall company performance.

Work Schedule

This is a salaried position with an expected schedule of roughly 45 to 50 hours per week, typically beginning around 7:00 a.m. and ending between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. depending on the season and workload. Weekend work is occasional and tied to seasonal demand rather than a regular occurrence.

A Note on Growth Potential

As Elevate Ag continues to grow, this position is expected to grow with it. The Plant Manager who succeeds in this role will have the opportunity to lead additional plant staff over time, and strong performers may also find opportunities to move into other areas of the company as their experience and interests develop.

The figures above reflect the ownership group's discussion and are intended as a working range rather than a finalized offer. A specific starting salary and benefits package will be determined once a final candidate is identified, based on their experience and fit for the position.