Plant Manager

Tropicale Foods, LLC; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Tropicale Foods, LLC seeks a Plant Manager to lead a two-line ice cream manufacturing facility (~160 employees) with accountability for safety, quality, service, cost, and people development. Set the vision, align teams to core values, and foster a high-performance culture centered on accountability and continuous improvement.

This leader stabilizes operations, executes turnarounds when needed, develops strong managers, and mobilizes the organization to win.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in a technical or operations field.
• 7-10+ years progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including turnaround or stabilization.
• Experience with Lean / Continuous Improvement systems.
• Food, dairy, frozen and CPG manufacturing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish and communicate a clear plant vision aligned to company strategy and core values.
• Develop and lead a values-driven, high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, and teamwork.
• Act as a visible, hands-on leader who builds trust and drives engagement across all levels.
• Develop and coach leaders to strengthen leadership capability across the plant; build a strong leadership bench and succession pipeline.
• Align teams around priorities and ensure consistent execution across shifts and functions.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and accountable work environment.
• Lead all production, maintenance, and warehouse operations to meet KPI targets.
• Stabilize operations and lead turnaround efforts, including performance recovery and culture reset.
• Instill a daily continuous improvement mindset focused on zero accidents, zero defects, >80% OEE, and zero service failures as the foundation for cost reduction and excellence.
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean, TPM, or similar methodologies.
• Deliver productivity improvements and cost reductions without compromising quality or safety.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Team-building

Problem-solving

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree (Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or related field)

Job description

The Plant Manager leads all aspects of a two-line ice cream manufacturing facility (~160 employees), with full accountability for safety, quality, service, cost, and people development.

This leader sets the vision for the plant, aligns teams to company core values, and builds a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement. The role requires a leader who can stabilize operations, execute a turnaround when needed, develop strong managers, and mobilize the organization to win.

Core Responsibilities:

• Establish and communicate a clear plant vision aligned to company strategy and core values
• Develop and Lead a values-driven, high-performance culture centered on safety, quality, accountability, and teamwork
• Act as a visible, hands-on leader who builds trust and drives engagement across all levels
• Develop and coach leaders to strengthen leadership capability across the plant; build a strong leadership bench and succession pipeline
• Align teams around priorities and ensure consistent execution across shifts and functions
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and accountable work environment

Operational Excellence

• Lead all production, maintenance, and warehouse operations to successfully meet KPI targets
• Stabilize operations and lead turnaround efforts, including performance recovery and culture reset
• Instill a daily continuous improvement mindset focused on zero accidents, zero defects, >80% OEE, and zero service failures as the foundation for sustainable cost reduction and operational excellence
• Drive continuous improvement using Lean, TPM, or similar methodologies
• Deliver productivity improvements and cost reductions without compromising quality or safety

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or related field)
• 7-10+ years progressive manufacturing leadership experience with proven success in turnaround or performance stabilization environments
• Experience with Lean / Continuous Improvement systems
• Food, dairy, frozen and CPG manufacturing experience preferred

Skills

• Strong verbal & written communication, and collaboration skills
• Strong food safety and regulatory knowledge
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Demonstrated ability to improve safety, quality, cost, and productivity
• Proven ability to develop leaders and build high-performing teams

Physical & Work Environment

• Regular presence in a food manufacturing environment with exposure to refrigerated and frozen conditions.
• Ability to walk production, warehouse, and maintenance areas daily.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs, balance; stoop, kneel or crouch; talk and hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five pounds.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a general office environment where the noise level is usually moderate.

Disclaimer

This position description indicates the general nature and level of work expected. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. Employees may be asked to perform other duties as required.