Plant Manager: Lean Operations & Food Safety Leader

Combined Selection Group Ltd; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Combined Selection Group Ltd~ partners with a leading poultry manufacturer to recruit an experienced Plant Manager to lead a high-volume processing facility. This executive role carries full responsibility for operations, production, food safety, quality, engineering, safety, and people leadership.

The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, coach a cross-functional team, manage budgets and continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure compliance with USDA, HACCP, GMPs while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Food Science, or a related discipline preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within poultry, protein, meat, or food manufacturing.
• Previous experience as a Plant Manager or Senior Operations Leader within a large-scale manufacturing environment.
• Proven success leading high-volume production facilities with responsibility for multiple departments.
• Strong understanding of USDA regulations, HACCP, GMPs, food safety systems, and operational compliance.
• Demonstrated experience managing P&L performance, budgets, labour planning, and capital investments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence programmes is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for all site operations.
• Lead a cross-functional management team across Production, FSQA, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Safety, and Warehouse functions.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the facility consistently achieves operational, financial, and customer service objectives.
• Drive improvements in productivity, labour efficiency, yield, throughput, and OEE.
• Deliver production schedules while maintaining the highest standards of quality and customer service.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Utilise operational metrics and data to identify improvement opportunities and implement sustainable solutions.
• Assume full responsibility for the plant’s operating budget and financial performance.
• Manage labour costs, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and productivity initiatives.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities while maintaining safety, quality, and service levels.

Skills

Executive leadership

P&L management

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Operational excellence

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Operations/Business/Food Science

Job description

Combined Selection Group Ltd~ partners with a leading poultry manufacturer to recruit an experienced Plant Manager to lead a high-volume processing facility. This executive role carries full responsibility for operations, production, food safety, quality, engineering, safety, and people leadership.

The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, coach a cross-functional team, manage budgets and continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure compliance with USDA, HACCP, GMPs while