Plant Manager

Michael Page; Kankakee (IL); On-site; USD 145,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Plan

Life and AD&D Insurance

Short- and Long-Term Disability

Job summary

Michael Page, on behalf of a growing food manufacturing client, seeks an experienced Plant Manager to lead a key production facility in Illinois. This role offers scope to shape plant culture, drive operational excellence, and guide a facility transformation and expansion.

You will lead day-to-day operations, mentor leadership teams, and own budgets, labor, and productivity while ensuring food safety and quality programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Food Science, or related field.
• 7+ years of food manufacturing leadership experience.
• Prior Plant Manager or senior operations leadership experience.
• Experience overseeing production and maintenance functions.
• Demonstrated success leading change, turnaround, growth, or expansion initiatives.
• Strong communication, coaching, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the facility.
• Develop and mentor plant leadership teams.
• Manage budgets, labor, productivity, and operating costs.
• Support facility growth, expansion, and capital projects.
• Maintain compliance with food safety, quality, and safety programs.
• Improve operational processes, inventory flow, and plant performance.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and employee development.

Skills

Leadership

Plant management

Operational excellence

Budget management

Change leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Food Science, or related field

Job description

A growing food manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead a key production facility. This role offers the opportunity to shape plant culture, drive operational excellence, and play a significant role in a facility transformation and future expansion initiative.

Our client is a well-established food manufacturing company with a long history of producing market-leading products and serving customers throughout North America. The organization generates revenue in the low hundreds of millions and continues to invest heavily in its manufacturing network.

The company is currently experiencing substantial growth, including facility expansion, new product capabilities, and operational transformation initiatives. This opportunity offers significant visibility and the chance to help shape the future direction of an important manufacturing site.

Description

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the facility
• Develop and mentor plant leadership teams
• Manage budgets, labor, productivity, and operating costs
• Support facility growth, expansion, and capital projects
• Maintain compliance with food safety, quality, and safety programs
• Improve operational processes, inventory flow, and plant performance
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and employee development

Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Food Science, or related field
• 7+ years of food manufacturing leadership experience
• Prior Plant Manager or senior operations leadership experience
• Experience overseeing both production and maintenance functions
• Demonstrated success leading change, turnaround, growth, or expansion initiatives
• Strong communication, coaching, and leadership skills
• Experience in a fast-paced food processing environment
• Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus

Job Offer

• Salary range of $145,000 to $170,000.

This role presents a unique opportunity to join a stable organization entering an exciting period of growth and investment.

The salary range for this role is $145,000-$170,000. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee's position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual bonus.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including Paid Time Off, medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k), life and AD&D insurance, and short- and long-term disability coverage to eligible employees.

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.