Plant Manager

DSJ Global; Valparaiso (IN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

DSJ Global is seeking a Plant Manager to oversee a large Northwest Indiana production facility. The role focuses on directing daily plant performance, safety, quality, and profitability across manufacturing, maintenance, and packaging functions.

You will lead cross-functional teams, drive Lean/Six Sigma initiatives, and ensure regulatory compliance while optimizing capacity and service levels. The position requires strong leadership and a track record of improving productivity in food

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• Experience leading large-scale food/manufacturing operations.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Direct all aspects of daily plant performance, including manufacturing, maintenance, packaging, and quality functions to achieve objectives.
• Coach, develop, and lead site leadership and hourly teams while promoting safety and operational excellence.
• Oversee production scheduling and resource utilization to maximize throughput and service levels.
• Champion food safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance while driving improvements.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards through leadership, risk mitigation, and continuous safety initiatives.
• Drive plant profitability by managing expenses, improving productivity, and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams, customers, suppliers, and stakeholders to support objectives and maintain high service standards.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts using Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and best practices to enhance performance.
• Analyze metrics to identify trends and communicate results to senior leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Lean Six Sigma

Food manufacturing

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Business

Job description

An industry leader in food manufacturing is looking to identify a Plant Manager to oversee operations at a large-scale production facility in Northwest Indiana! This individual will be responsible for driving operational performance, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and productivity.

Responsibilities:

• Operations Management: Direct all aspects of daily plant performance, including manufacturing, maintenance, packaging, and quality functions to achieve operational and customer objectives.
• People Leadership: Coach, develop, and lead site leadership and hourly teams while promoting a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Capacity & Production Planning: Oversee production scheduling and resource utilization to maximize throughput, efficiency, and service levels.
• Food Safety & Quality: Champion food safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance while driving corrective actions and sustainable process improvements.
• Environmental Health & Safety: Ensure compliance with safety standards through active leadership, risk mitigation, employee engagement, and continuous safety improvement initiatives.
• Financial Performance: Drive plant profitability by managing expenses, improving productivity, and identifying opportunities for cost reduction and operational efficiencies.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner with internal teams, customers, suppliers, and key stakeholders to support business objectives and maintain high service standards.
• Operational Excellence: Lead continuous improvement efforts utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and other best-practice methodologies to enhance plant performance.
• Performance Monitoring: Analyze operational, financial, quality, and safety metrics to identify trends, drive improvements, and communicate results to senior leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Extensive leadership experience within food, beverage, bakery, snack, private label, or contract manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale manufacturing operations in a Plant Manager or comparable site leadership capacity.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food manufacturing processes, quality systems, regulatory requirements, and operational best practices.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence, develop, and inspire teams across multiple functions.
• Proven history of driving productivity, efficiency, and cultural improvements through continuous improvement programs.
• Experience overseeing plant financials, capital investments, labor management, and key operational performance indicators.
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills with a focus on measurable business outcomes.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other operational excellence certifications preferred.