Plant Manager

Top Quality Recruitment (TQR); Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Quality Recruitment (TQR) seeks a Plant Manager to lead all operational activities at the Knoxville facility, driving production excellence through goal setting, performance reviews, and Continuous Improvement execution.

You will champion safety, quality, productivity, and cost control; build a high-performing leadership team; monitor KPIs; and ensure GMP compliance, food safety, and successful audits while coordinating with corporate functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, or a related STEM field (preferred).
• 10+ years of production experience, preferably in food/beverage manufacturing.
• 5+ years of Operational leadership with proven team-building ability.
• Lean Six Sigma, PMP, TPM or other relevant certifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive all operational activities at the facility to ensure production excellence.
• Develop and monitor KPI scorecards and performance reviews with leadership.
• Foster safety, quality, productivity, and cost control through continuous improvements.
• Build and mentor a high-performance leadership team with clear vision and goals.
• Coordinate with corporate functions and ensure GMP, food safety, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Operational Excellence

GMP enforcement

GFSI audits

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/operations/STEM

10+ years production experience

5+ years Operational leadership

Lean Six Sigma / PMP / TPM certs

Job description

The Plant Manager will be responsible for leading and driving all operational activities at the facility to ensure consistent levels of production excellence are achieved and sustained while developing a fully engaged and talented workforce. In this role, the Plant Manager will provide clear direction and leadership to the plant staff through goal setting, performance and metric reviews, action planning, and Continuous Improvement execution.

Key Activities

• Champions and drives continuous improvements in key areas, such as: Safety, Quality, Productivity, Cost and Customer Service.
• Fosters a Safety First, Quality Always culture focused on operational excellence while developing direct reports.
• Develops a highly effective leadership team by applying high standards for selection, communicating and delegating key responsibilities, establishing clear vision and stretch goals, and actively utilizing all performance, development and career tools to their full potential. Improves upon the capabilities of all plant personnel and develops a highly motivated workforce.
• Leads facility to achieve Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and uses performance data to drive improvement and provide optimal production performance.
• Maintains KPI scorecard within the key plant areas. Conducts KPI review meetings with the plant leadership team.
• Implements cost-effective control systems over capital assets, operating expenditures, and labor costs.
• Continuously improves site processes and technologies. Develops and executes upon a site capital plan, addressing both short-term and long-term opportunities.
• Controls and minimizes overtime labor costs, maintenance/repair costs, downtime and product rework.
• Identifies and eliminates potential sources of food safety risk. Responsible for delivering site environmental, health, & safety performance. Works to exceed expectations for all internal & external audits, i.e., BRC.
• Acts as liaison between plant personnel and corporate functions, building solid relationships between these teams. Effectively communicates urgent issues both internal and external to VP of Operations and the site leadership team, as needed. Identifies issues quickly, develops action plans and coordinates team member activities, so that these issues are communicated upward and dealt with quickly & effectively.
• Identifies root causes of issues and is adept at developing and implementing corrective actions to prevent repeat problems.
• Follows all safety procedures and participates in safety training. Maintains safe and efficient use of equipment, tools, and personnel. Reports any injury or accident or unsafe conditions immediately to a supervisory member.
• Supports and complies with GMP’s. Understands and follows the emergency action plan.
• Supports food safety, quality, and legality.
• Ensures the operation is providing food-safe, quality products which meet or exceed all product specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Skills

• Operational Excellence mindset with success meeting production KPIs.
• Solid understanding and enforcement of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Understanding of major functions within the plant and the ability to work directly with all levels and functions.
• Knowledge of GFSI audit schemes, such as BRC and SQF.

Educations & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or a related STEM field preferred.
• 10+ years of production experience, preferably within a food and/or beverage manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of Operational leadership with a demonstrated ability to successfully build and mentor high-performance teams.
• Lean Six Sigma, PMP, TPM or other relevant certifications.

TQR is an equal-opportunity employer that encourages diversity. We will consider all applications.

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request.