Plant Manager

Institut Rosell-Lallemand Inc.; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in yeast manufacturing is seeking a Plant Manager to lead its operations in Memphis. The role demands a strategic thinker who can manage cross-functional teams and drive operational efficiency while ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. Candidates should possess extensive experience in production-driven environments and leadership abilities to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in operational management.
• Knowledge of food industry standards and continuous improvement approaches.
• Ability to work with unionized personnel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and ensure the efficiency of all site activities.
• Develop the annual facility budget and manage operational costs.
• Champion health and safety culture and ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Problem Solving

Communication

Stress Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline in Science/Engineering/Operations management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

PURPOSE:
The Plant Manager is the strategic and operational leader of our 24/7 yeast manufacturing facility — a high-performing, partially automated site serving a diverse and evolving agri-food market. This role drives cross-functional excellence across production, safety, quality, engineering, and people development. Through strong leadership, proactive problem-solving, and a passion for continuous improvement, the Plant Manager ensures safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations while shaping a culture of accountability, innovation, and performance.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Oversees and ensure the proper functioning, efficiency and cohesion of all site activities (production, maintenance, engineering, quality, health and safety, environment, human resources, training) to accomplish site objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Collaborates daily with key centralized functions (such as finance, quality assurance, laboratory, engineering, purchasing, logistics, sales and distribution).
• Champions a strong health and safety culture, focused on prevention as well as regulatory compliance
• Monitors Key Performance Indicators in all relevant areas and manages performance for cost efficiency, quality, flexibility and productivity; Leads routine data-driven reviews with their team using a variety of platforms (Safety Chain, Unix, Cognos, Grafana, LEMS, Alchemy, etc.)
• Maintains existing plant facilities and equipment; manage capital assets through acquisition and maintenance.
• Develops the annual facility budget, manages operational costs through continuous improvements in processes, implements cost effective systems of control over capital, operating expenditures, manpower, wages and salaries; updates a forecast of same in response to changes.
• Coordinate the investigation and the resolution of plant non-conformities, customer issues and/or complaints in close collaboration with the quality manager and initiates corrective actions in a timely manner against non-conformity.
• Accompany site management team in problem solving, employee mobilization and the application of the site rules and/or collective agreement, within a framework of continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership for employee relations through effective communications, coaching, training and development; Ensures the day-to-day management of human resources in collaboration with site leadership team, including the selection and hiring processes of the site’s personnel and succession planning for all functions.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state/province and local regulations, including environmental compliance and the renewal of all appropriate production licenses and permits.
• Represent Lallemand in external communications such as the neighborhood, the community at large, relevant authorities and our sister plants (in collaboration with Lallemand corporate communications).
• Serve as back-up for another site Manager functions, when required.

Direct Reporting: VP of Operations
Functional Reporting: All Department Heads (Production, Maintenance, Supply Chain, QA/QC)

Technical skills

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline in Science/Engineering/Operations management, with emphasis in process control helpful
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in operational management, within a fast-paced, production-driven environment
• Knowledge of principles and practices of supervision and management. A demonstrated ability to lead people and get results through others with integrity and respect. Ability to work successfully with unionized personnel, where applicable.
• Understanding of the procedures surrounding food industry standards. Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, Food Safety and GFSI programs. Demonstrated ability for continuous process improvement using modern approaches to problem solving: Lean, RCA, PDCA.
• Technical skills in materials and inventory management, production scheduling and preventative maintenance.
• Basic understanding of industrial equipment: pumps, conveyors, valves, PLC’s, variable frequency drives, etc.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

An asset

• Experience with food or biological processes would be an asset
• Fermentation Knowledge is a plus
• Experience in Yeast industry, Dairy industry or Brewery / Distillery is a plus

Personal abilities

Required

• Strong leadership with a collaborative mindset; ability to develop and maintain productive and positive relationships with federal/state/local agencies, vendors, customers and employees, other Business Units, etc.
• Ability to effectively gather relevant data, evaluate and present information, and respond to questions from internal/external customers, deliver results, etc.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to successfully negotiate contractual agreements by reading, analyzing and interpreting complex documents.
• Good stress management, adaptability and ability to prioritize tasks; strong organizational skills for the performance of a variety of complex administrative duties.

General criteria

Required

• Available to provide off hours support during emergencies (evenings and weekends) and travel up to 20% of the time.

Organization

Lallemand is a privately held Canadian company founded in the late 19th century, which develops, produces, and markets microorganisms for various markets. The administrative offices of the parent company are in Montreal, Canada. Today, Lallemand employs more than 5,000 people working in more than 45 countries on 5 continents.

Lallemand Baking offers a range of superior quality baker's yeast – both fresh and dry varieties – and specialty ingredients to meet bakers' needs across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Baking cultures and dough conditioners round out our impressive product range.

The Lallemand baking team's many branches collaborate closely to provide innovative products and efficient services, backed by a skilled technical support team in each region of operations.

Please take note that accommodations will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.