Plant Manager

J&J Snack Foods Corp; Paducah (KY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

J&J Snack Foods Corp. seeks a Plant Manager to lead a high-volume snack food manufacturing plant. Responsibilities include safety, quality, cost control, and continuous improvement, reporting to the Director of Operations.

The role requires strong cross-functional leadership across production, maintenance, and sanitation to achieve the production plan. Ideal candidates will bring 7–10+ years of manufacturing leadership, a focus on OSHA/FDA/GMP compliance, and demonstrated success in Lean and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required; Master's preferred.
• 7–10+ years leading manufacturing operations, preferably in CPG or food production.
• Proven safety management with OSHA compliance.
• Experience with GMP and food quality systems.
• Strong budgeting and cost control experience.
• Familiarity with Lean, 5S, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt preferred).
• Experience with SAP or JD Edwards is a plus.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee plant operations including production, maintenance, quality, warehouse, planning, and sanitation.
• Promote safety culture and ensure OSHA/FDA/GMP/HACCP compliance.
• Deliver production plan on time by optimizing OEE, labor efficiency, yield, and waste reduction.
• Partner with Quality to uphold food safety standards and lead corrective actions.
• Build and develop a high-performing team and succession planning.
• Manage plant budget, labor, overhead, waste, and conversion costs.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives with Lean, 5S, and kaizen events.
• Ensure equipment reliability and manage preventive maintenance and capital projects.
• Collaborate with Planning, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, and Distribution.
• Track and report KPIs to senior leadership.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Team Building

Strategic Planning

Operational Excellence

Lean / Kaizen

Data-driven Decision Making

Communication

Employee Development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Management, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

SAP

JD Edwards

Job description

As a leader and innovator in the snack food industry for over 50 years, J&J Snack Foods provides branded snack foods to foodservice and retail supermarket outlets across the U.S. Its products include such icons as SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, and Dippin' Dots along with other key brands like LUIGI'S Real Italian Ice, The Funnel Cake Factory Funnel Cakes, and Hola Churros. J&J also has a strong presence in bakery providing cakes, cookies, and pies to some of the largest grocery and convenience retailers in industry. Our company continues to deliver record sales led by a talented team and a commitment to "Fun Served Here".

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Plant Manager serves as the senior leader responsible for the overall operational performance of a high-volume snack food manufacturing plant. This role oversees all day-to-day plant activities and is accountable for safety, quality, service, cost, people, and culture. The Plant Manager leads cross-functional teams across production, maintenance, quality, warehouse, planning, and sanitation to ensure the efficient production of high-quality products in alignment with company standards and financial targets. This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution, translating company objectives into daily plant operations while driving operational excellence and continuous improvement. The Plant Manager plays a critical role in delivering the production plan, enhancing productivity and profitability, and fostering a safe, engaged, and high-performing workforce.

Essential Functions

• Leads and manages all aspects of plant operations, including production, maintenance, quality, warehouse, planning, and sanitation, to ensure the safe, efficient, and timely manufacturing of high-quality products.
• Establishes and sustains a strong safety culture by promoting a zero-injury mindset; ensure full compliance with all OSHA, FDA, GMP, HACCP, and environmental regulations through proactive programs, audits, and corrective actions.
• Delivers the production plan on time and in full by optimizing operational performance, including OEE, labor efficiency, yield, and waste reduction, while identifying and eliminating constraints and bottlenecks.
• Partners with Quality to uphold the highest food safety and product standards; ensure adherence to all quality systems, maintain audit readiness, and lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for quality deviations.
• Builds, leads, and develops a high-performing team by recruiting, training, and coaching supervisors and frontline employees; fosters a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement, while supporting succession planning and positive employee/labor relations.
• Owns and manages the plant’s financial performance, including the operating budget, labor and overtime costs, waste, and conversion costs; monitor expenditures and drive cost-effective operations aligned with business objectives.
• Champions continuous improvement initiatives by implementing Lean manufacturing principles, 5S, and structured problem-solving methodologies; lead kaizen events and leverage data and KPIs to drive performance and decision-making.
• Ensures equipment reliability and optimal facility performance through strong partnership with maintenance; oversee preventive maintenance programs and manage capital improvement projects to support operational efficiency and long-term growth.
• Collaborates cross-functionally with Planning, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, and Distribution to align materials, staffing, and maintenance plans with production needs, including support for new product introductions and process changes.
• Tracks, analyzes, and reports key performance indicators related to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people; communicate performance and improvement plans effectively to senior leadership.
• Performs other duties and special projects assigned to support plant operations and organizational objectives.

Competencies

• Excellent planning, organizational, and time-management skills, with the ability to balance production and maintenance priorities.
• Proven leadership and team-building abilities, including advanced coaching, employee development, and motivation skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and active listening skills.
• Adaptable and flexible, able to navigate change and respond to evolving operational needs.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Collaborative, with the ability to lead team-based decision-making processes.
• Highly motivated, results-oriented, and driven to achieve operational excellence.
• Alignment with and passion for the company’s mission, vision, values, and operating principles.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Management, or a related field; Master's degree preferred. Equivalent experience will also be considered.
• Minimum of 7-10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, preferably in CPG or food production, with prior experience leading a plant or large production operation.
• Proven track record in safety management, including implementing and enforcing safety systems and ensuring compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards.
• Extensive experience managing food quality systems and adhering to GMP and other industry requirements.
• Strong operational knowledge of manufacturing processes, maintenance, and engineering principles, with demonstrated practical application.
• Experience managing budgets, expenses, and cost performance, with solid financial and accounting understanding.
• Hands-on experience with continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, 5S, Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt preferred), or similar process improvement frameworks.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with enterprise systems such as SAP or JD Edwards is a plus.

Disclaimer: This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the team member. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement: J&J Snack Foods Corp.is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discriminatory employment actions against, and treatment of, employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived Federal, State and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, alienage, religion or creed, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, genetic disposition or characteristics, disability or veteran's status, sex offenses, prior record of arrest or conviction, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking and unemployment status.