Plant Manager

msiexpress; Portage (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

msiexpress is seeking a Plant Manager to oversee daily food manufacturing operations, ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. You will drive efficiency, lead cross-functional teams, and manage budgets to meet production goals in a fast-paced environment.

The role emphasizes lean process improvements, strong collaboration with QA, supply chain, and maintenance, and a focus on fostering a safe, productive workplace while delivering on cost targets.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership in food manufacturing or related industry.
• 5+ years in plant operations management including production, quality, safety, and supply chain.
• Experience with HACCP, GMP, SQF, FDA/USDA regulations.
• ERP/mfg systems experience (SAP, Oracle).

Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, quality, sanitation, warehousing, and logistics.
• Ensure strict adherence to food safety programs and conduct internal audits.
• Oversee daily production schedules to meet customer orders on time.
• Coordinate with procurement and planning to optimize raw materials and inventory.
• Monitor KPIs and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and manage plant operating budgets and cost-reduction efforts.
• Foster safety culture and employee development.

Skills

Food safety

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Cross-functional

Lean Six Sigma

Budget mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Industrial Management, Business Administration, or related field

Master's degree (MBA or related) asset

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

ROLE PURPOSE/ POSITION SUMMARY

The Plant Manager is accountable for overseeing the daily operations of the food manufacturing facility, including production, quality assurance, maintenance, sanitation, safety, and supply chain. This role ensures adherence to food safety standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., HACCP, GMP, FDA, USDA) while delivering against production goals and cost targets. The Plant Manager will lead cross-functional teams to continuously improve processes, reduce waste, enhance productivity, and ensure timely delivery of products to customers. In addition, this position plays a key role in shaping plant culture, driving employee engagement, and fostering a safe workplace. Collaboration with the executive leadership team and corporate support teams is essential to ensure alignment with broader business objectives.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES/PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Accountabilities

• Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance:Ensure full compliance with all food safety standards (HACCP, GMP, SQF, BRC) and regulatory requirements from agencies such as the FDA, USDA, and local health departments.
• Operational Excellence:Oversee daily plant operations to ensure consistent, efficient, and high-quality production that meets customer demand and company standards.
• Quality Assurance:Maintain rigorous quality control procedures to ensure that all products meet internal specifications and external customer and regulatory expectations.
• Health & Workplace Safety:Lead a safety-first culture by maintaining a clean, organized, and hazard-free work environment. Ensure compliance with OSHA and company safety policies.
• Supply Chain & Inventory Management:Manage raw materials, packaging, and finished goods flow to ensure timely production and delivery while minimizing waste and spoilage.
• Financial Performance:Deliver against plant financial objectives by managing budgets, controlling costs, optimizing labor and materials, and improving operational efficiencies.
• Leadership & Team Development:Lead, coach, and develop the plant team to foster engagement, accountability, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, quality assurance, sanitation, warehousing, and logistics.
• Ensure strict adherence to all food safety programs, conducting internal audits and leading external inspections as needed.
• Oversee daily production schedules, ensuring customer orders are fulfilled accurately and on time.
• Collaborate with customers, quality, procurement, and supply chain teams to support new product launches, reformulations, and special runs.
• Monitor KPIs (e.g., reliability, yield, downtime, complaints, waste) and implement action plans for continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with procurement and planning to manage raw material inventory, minimize shortages or overstock, and optimize warehouse space.
• Ensure all sanitation and cleaning protocols are executed according to schedule and verified for compliance.
• Champion a proactive safety culture by conducting regular safety audits, training, and incident investigations.
• Develop and manage plant operating budgets, capital projects, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Foster a positive and productive working environment through regular communication, performance reviews, and employee development.
• Lead crisis management efforts for food recalls, contamination risks, or emergency shutdowns.
• Report on plant performance to senior leadership and recommend operational strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS/ CAPABILITY PROFILE

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Industrial Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master's degree (MBA or related field) may be considered an asset, especially for larger or more complex operations.

Minimum Experience

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing or a closely related industry.
• 5+ years of direct experience in plant operations management, including oversight of production, quality, safety, and supply chain functions.
• Proven track record of managing in a regulated food production environment, with demonstrated understanding of HACCP, GMP, SQF, and FDA/USDA regulations.
• Experience leading and developing cross-functional teams in a high-speed, high-volume manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated success in implementing continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) with measurable operational and financial impact.
• Strong background in budget management, cost control, and performance metrics.
• Experience working with ERP and manufacturing systems, preferably in a food manufacturing context (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or industry-specific platforms).
• Experience with customer audits, third-party certifications, and government inspections is highly desirable.

Minimum Knowledge/ Skills/ Abilities Knowledge

Deep understanding of food manufacturing processes, including food safety, sa