Plant Manager

Alpha Executive Search; Illinois; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Alpha Executive Search is seeking a Plant Manager with pork slaughter experience to lead a meat processing facility. You will oversee safety, quality, productivity, cost control, and employee engagement while guiding hourly teams and cross-functional support groups such as Sanitation, Shipping, Maintenance, and Engineering.

You will drive continuous improvement, ensure USDA and HACCP compliance, lead a union environment, and partner with HR to cultivate a strong workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Must have meat (preferably pork) and slaughter experience.
• 10+ years of plant experience, including significant supervisory/management responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven leadership experience in a meat processing/manufacturing, kill facility environment.
• Strong understanding of food safety, USDA requirements, HACCP, safety, labor management, and plant financial performance.
• Experience leading teams in a union environment strongly preferred.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and drive accountability at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day plant operations with a strong focus on safety, food quality, productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
• Drive continuous improvement in labor, yields, raw material utilization, waste, and operating costs.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, CCPs, SSOPs, USDA, and company food safety requirements.
• Lead safety initiatives, including ergonomics, injury reduction, safety training, and the plant Safety Committee.
• Develop, coach, and lead a high-performing team; oversee hiring, training, performance management, and employee relations.
• Partner with HR and production leadership to build a strong workplace culture and develop future leaders.
• Maintain a productive relationship with UFCW Local 2 and ensure compliance with the collective bargaining agreement.
• Collaborate with vendors, suppliers, USDA, and corporate leadership to support plant goals and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Safety management

Quality control

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Business, or related field

Job description

Lead the plant. Drive performance. Build a strong culture.

We’re seeking an experienced Plant Manager with pork slaughter experience to lead overall plant operations, safety, quality, productivity, cost control, and employee engagement. This is a highly visible leadership role with responsibility for operations management and hourly teams, as well as cross-functional oversight of support functions including Sanitation, Shipping, Maintenance, and Engineering.

What You’ll Do

• Lead day-to-day plant operations with a strong focus on safety, food quality, productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
• Drive continuous improvement in labor, yields, raw material utilization, waste, and operating costs.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, CCPs, SSOPs, USDA, and company food safety requirements.
• Lead safety initiatives, including ergonomics, injury reduction, safety training, and the plant Safety Committee.
• Develop, coach, and lead a high-performing team; oversee hiring, training, performance management, and employee relations.
• Partner with HR and production leadership to build a strong workplace culture and develop future leaders.
• Maintain a productive relationship with UFCW Local 2 and ensure compliance with the collective bargaining agreement.
• Collaborate with vendors, suppliers, USDA, and corporate leadership to support plant goals and continuous improvement.

What You Bring

• Must have meat (preferably pork) and slaughter experience.
• 10+ years of plant experience, including significant supervisory/management responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven leadership experience in a meat processing/manufacturing, kill facility environment.
• Strong understanding of food safety, USDA requirements, HACCP, safety, labor management, and plant financial performance.
• Experience leading teams in a union environment strongly preferred.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and drive accountability at all levels.

This is an opportunity to make a significant impact on plant performance, culture, and profitability while leading a team in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.