Plant Manager

CareersInFood.com; Turlock (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits package

Job summary

Valley Milk, a leading California dairy ingredients producer, seeks a seasoned Plant Manager to direct all manufacturing functions at our Turlock facility. You will drive safety, quality, and financial performance while building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The role requires a minimum of 10 years in manufacturing leadership, with emphasis on dairy processes and Lean initiatives. You will mentor leaders, optimize OEE, and ensure strict regulatory compliance to deliver

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• At least 5 years leading plant operations within food, dairy, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.
• Strong dairy manufacturing experience with milk drying or spray drying operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations including Production, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Sanitation.
• Drive a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Develop and mentor department leaders while building high-performing teams.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Improve OEE, productivity, throughput, yields, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with SQF, HACCP, GMP, FDA, OSHA/Cal-OSHA, and environmental regulations.
• Manage plant budgets and achieve cost, quality, and profitability objectives.
• Analyze operational KPIs and implement corrective actions.
• Support capital improvement projects and modernization efforts.
• Partner with Executive Leadership to support long-term business strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Dairy Processing

Cross-functional Leadership

Safety Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Job description

Valley Milk is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking Plant Manager to lead our world-class dairy ingredient manufacturing facility in Turlock, California.

This is an opportunity to join a growing organization that combines the stability of family ownership with an entrepreneurial culture focused on continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence.

Our state-of-the-art facility processes more than 2.5 million pounds of milk each day, producing premium dairy ingredients including milk powders, anhydrous milk fat (AMF), and ultra-filtered milk for domestic and international markets.

Why Valley Milk?

• Privately owned by California dairy families with long-term vision
• Growth-oriented leadership team
• Opportunity to shape culture and operational excellence
• Competitive compensation and benefits package

Position Summary

The Plant Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for all manufacturing functions, including Production, Maintenance, Warehouse, Sanitation, and related operations. This role is responsible for driving safety, quality, productivity, employee engagement, and financial performance while fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

What You'll Do

As Plant Manager, you will:

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing operations
• Drive a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence
• Develop and mentor department leaders while building high-performing teams
• Champion Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Improve OEE, productivity, throughput, yields, and operational efficiency
• Ensure compliance with SQF, HACCP, GMP, FDA, OSHA/Cal-OSHA, and environmental regulations
• Manage plant budgets and achieve cost, quality, and profitability objectives
• Analyze operational KPIs and implement sustainable corrective actions
• Support capital improvement projects and operational modernization
• Partner with Executive Leadership to support long-term business strategy

What We're Looking For

Required Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
• At least 5 years leading plant operations within food, dairy, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing
• Strong dairy manufacturing experience with milk drying or spray drying operations
• Proven success implementing Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement programs
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and developing leaders
• History of improving safety, quality, productivity, employee engagement, and financial performance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Science, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field is preferred.

Equivalent combinations of education, specialized training, and progressively responsible manufacturing leadership experience will also be considered. Candidates with extensive plant leadership experience who have demonstrated success in similar manufacturing environments are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with one or more of the following:

• Dairy powder manufacturing
• Anhydrous Milk Fat (AMF)
• Ultra-filtered milk processing
• SQF-certified facilities
• Lean Manufacturing
• 5S
• Value Stream Mapping
• OEE improvement
• Capital project leadership

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Safety Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Strategic Thinking
• Accountability
• Coaching & Talent Development
• Customer Focus
• Results Orientation

Join Our Team

At Valley Milk, you'll have the opportunity to lead one of the most advanced dairy ingredient manufacturing facilities in California while helping shape the future of a growing organization committed to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

Required Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
• At least 5 years leading plant operations within food, dairy, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing
• Strong dairy manufacturing experience with milk drying or spray drying operations
• Proven success implementing Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement programs
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and developing leaders
• History of improving safety, quality, productivity, employee engagement, and financial performance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Science, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field is preferred.

Equivalent combinations of education, specialized training, and progressively responsible manufacturing leadership experience will also be considered. Candidates with extensive plant leadership experience who have demonstrated success in similar manufacturing environments are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with one or more of the following:

• Dairy powder manufacturing
• Anhydrous Milk Fat (AMF)
• Ultra-filtered milk processing
• SQF-certified facilities
• Lean Manufacturing
• 5S
• Value Stream Mapping
• OEE improvement
• Capital project leadership

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Safety Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Strategic Thinking
• Accountability
• Coaching & Talent Development
• Customer Focus
• Results Orientation

Join Our Team

At Valley Milk, you'll have the opportunity to lead one of the most advanced dairy ingredient manufacturing facilities in California while helping shape the future of a growing organization committed to quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.