Plant Manager

Gables Search Group; La Grange (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in food production is seeking a dynamic Plant Manager for their meat processing facility in Chicago. This role involves leading daily operations, ensuring compliance with USDA standards, and managing a large team to optimize production efficiency. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in meat processing and a strong leadership presence. With relocation support available, this is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to make a significant impact in a fast-growing company. If you're passionate about operational excellence and team development, this role is for you.

Qualifications

• 7-10+ years of leadership experience in meat processing or USDA-regulated food production.
• 5+ years of knowledge of food safety programs, USDA inspection protocols, HACCP.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of plant operations, ensuring safety and quality standards.
• Supervise a leadership team and manage over 50 hourly employees.

Skills

Leadership in meat processing

Food safety programs knowledge

Operational discipline

Team coaching

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Science, or related field

Tools

Production reporting systems

Scheduling tools

MS Office

Job description

Join to apply for the Plant Manager role at Gables Search Group

Plant Manager – Meat Processing Facility | Chicago, IL

Take charge of daily operations at a high-volume meat processing facility in Chicago, where leadership, structure, and performance truly matter. This plant plays a critical role within a fast-expanding national food company, supplying raw and value-added protein products across the region. We’re looking for a sharp, grounded operations leader who can bring consistency, accountability, and energy to a USDA-regulated production floor.

This role is ideal for someone who is hands-on, operationally sharp, and thrives in fast-moving environments where priorities shift, teams need coaching, and efficiency is everything. If you’ve led complex plant operations, managed large teams, and bring a deep understanding of USDA-regulated meat production, this could be your next step.

Compensation: $120,000–$150,000 base + performance bonus

Location: Chicago, IL (Relocation support available)

Reporting To: Director of Operations

Facility Type: Raw and further processed meat products

Responsibilities

1. Lead all aspects of plant operations—from production flow and labor scheduling to sanitation, yields, and inventory management
2. Manage day-to-day output while enforcing safety, quality, and regulatory standards across the facility
3. Supervise a leadership team including Production Supervisors, area leads, and over 50 hourly employees
4. Identify and eliminate production bottlenecks by applying best practices in labor utilization and process control
5. Ensure USDA, GMP, and internal food safety standards are met or exceeded at all times
6. Collaborate with QA, maintenance, logistics, and procurement teams to keep the facility running smoothly and meeting service targets
7. Review daily and weekly performance metrics and take proactive steps to improve throughput, reduce waste, and manage downtime
8. Support hiring, training, and retention of frontline employees and supervisors
9. Prepare the operation for continued expansion, including layout improvements, shift structure, and new production lines

Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Science, Animal Science, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience)
2. 7–10+ years of leadership experience in meat processing, protein manufacturing, or USDA-regulated food production
3. 5+ years of knowledge of food safety programs, USDA inspection protocols, HACCP, and sanitation standards
4. Previous success managing supervisors and large hourly teams in a meat production environment
5. Clear leadership presence with a focus on accountability, team coaching, and operational discipline
6. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, audits, and deadlines
7. Familiarity with production reporting systems, scheduling tools, and MS Office

Additional Information

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Management and Manufacturing
• Industries: Food Production