Senior Plant Manager 3601846

Wetalentia; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full Benefits Package

Job summary

Wetalentia is seeking a highly operational Sr. Plant Manager to lead multiple manufacturing facilities in a dynamic food production environment. You will drive production, safety, quality, and continuous improvement while aligning operations with business goals on the Chicago footprint.

The role requires a hands-on leader capable of balancing strategic planning with daily execution, developing teams, and delivering operational excellence across production lines.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading food manufacturing operations.
• Experience in multi-site, high-volume food production.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, RCA, CAPA, and CI methodologies.
• Familiarity with OSHA, FDA, USDA, GMP, and HACCP regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop people and build operational structure.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across multiple manufacturing facilities in a fast-paced food production environment.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to production leadership teams.
• Drive safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage budgets and support capital planning; drive cost reduction.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Operational Excellence

Team development

Communication

Hands-on leadership

Safety culture

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Manufacturing systems

Job description

Our client is a well-established international food manufacturing company with a strong global presence and a rapidly growing footprint in the United States. The organization combines an entrepreneurial mindset with a fast-paced, highly operational environment focused on quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.

This is not a traditional corporate structure. Leadership is deeply involved in day-to-day operations, priorities may shift quickly, and successful individuals are those who thrive in ambiguity while maintaining strong ownership, accountability, and operational discipline.

The company strongly values:

• Stability and long-term commitment
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Initiative and ownership mentality
• Direct communication and transparency
• Humility and hands-on leadership style

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly operational and hands-onSr. Plant Manager to lead multiple manufacturing operations and oversee the full production organization within a complex food manufacturing environment.

This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across production, safety, quality, efficiency, continuous improvement, and organizational development.

The Sr. Plant Manager will serve as a key operational leader, ensuring alignment between manufacturing operations and overall business objectives while maintaining a strong

presence on the production floor.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring both strategic thinking and daily operational execution.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership

• Lead day-to-day operations across multiple manufacturing facilities within a fast-paced food production environment
• Maintain a highly visible presence on the production floor and actively support daily operational execution
• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to production leadership teams
• Ensure production schedules are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with business needs
• Drive accountability and operational discipline across all levels of manufacturing operations
• Support organizational development and succession planning within the operations team

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead and promote Continuous Improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, waste reduction, and operational performance
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, TPM, RCA, CAPA, and CI methodologies throughout the organization
• Analyze operational processes and identify opportunities for optimization across production lines and manufacturing systems
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs, implementing corrective actions when necessary
• Support implementation of operational improvements, process standardization, and efficiency initiatives

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and operational ownership
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, USDA, GMP, HACCP, and internal food safety standards
• Partner closely with Quality, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to support operational excellence
• Lead operational response and follow-up related to safety, quality, and compliance issues
• Ensure manufacturing operations consistently meet quality standards and customer expectations

Financial & Strategic Responsibilities

• Manage plant operating budgets and support capital expenditure planning
• Participate in long-range operational planning and future manufacturing expansion initiatives
• Drive cost reduction initiatives while maintaining operational performance and product quality
• Support operational strategies focused on profitability, efficiency, and sustainable growth

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Quality, HR, and Executive Leadership teams
• Support new product introductions and operational readiness initiatives
• Participate in operational meetings and leadership reviews as required
• Foster strong communication and alignment across departments

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of leadership experience within food manufacturing operations
• Strong background managing large-scale production environments with multiple production lines
• Experience within complex manufacturing environments involving operational variability, multiple SKUs, and fast-paced production
• Fresh food manufacturing experience strongly preferred
• Proven experience driving Continuous Improvement and operational efficiency initiatives
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, TPM, RCA, CAPA, and CI methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop people, and build operational structure
• Strong understanding of OSHA, FDA, USDA, GMP, and HACCP regulations
• Experience managing plant operations within highly operational and hands-on manufacturing cultures
• Exposure to capital projects, operational planning, and manufacturing expansion initiatives preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Operations Management, Food Science, Engineering, or related field preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing-related systems/applications
• Ability to work flexible hours when operationally required
• Hands-on, shop floor-oriented leadership
• Strong operational presence and accountability
• Ability to balance strategy and execution
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Adaptability in fast-paced environments
• Strong communication and team development abilities
• Ability to drive change and operational efficiency

Preferred Qualifications

• International or multi-site manufacturing organizations
• Exposure to high-volume food production environments
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification preferred

Compensation

• Full Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k Match, PTO)