Plant Manager (Local Candidates)

ZipRecruiter; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is looking for a Plant Manager for a new manufacturing facility focusing on high-quality frozen foods in Asheville, NC. This role involves overseeing operations, building a strong team, and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations while managing significant budgets and scaling production.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of food manufacturing experience, with 5+ years in leadership.
• Proven success in launching or expanding operations.
• Comfort with ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead startup of a USDA-regulated facility.
• Oversee daily plant operations and food safety.
• Manage a $20M+ operating budget.

Skills

Food Safety Management

Team Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Budget Management

Operational Excellence

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Plant Manager (Food Manufacturer) (Targeting Local Candidates)

Job Location: Asheville, NC

Job Type: Full Time

About the Role

This is a rare ground-floor opportunity to lead the launch of a new manufacturing facility focused on frozen, high-quality, globally influenced street foods. You’ll be responsible for overseeing operations, hiring and developing your team, and ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead the startup of a brand-new USDA-regulated facility producing frozen food products
2. Build, coach, and scale a high-performing operations team (initially ~9 direct reports, growing with demand)
3. Oversee daily plant operations including production, food safety, quality, and maintenance
4. Ensure regulatory compliance: USDA, FDA, SQF, HACCP, GMP
5. Oversee raw material and finished goods inventory, including procurement of direct and indirect materials, lot/batch code tracking, and management of short shelf-life, high-value ingredients
6. Champion a best-in-class safety and accountability culture
7. Collaborate cross-functionally with Quality, Culinary, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR
8. Manage and track a $20M+ operating budget
9. Help transition from a proprietary ERP to a scalable commercial platform
10. Contribute to long-term scaling efforts: ramp from 5 to 9 lines and 1 to 2 shifts over 3 years

What You Bring

1. 8+ years of food manufacturing experience, with 5+ years in a leadership role
2. Proven success launching or expanding operations—either a full plant startup or a major new product line
3. Hands-on leadership style with a track record of building strong teams and retaining frontline talent
4. Solid understanding of USDA/FDA-regulated food safety programs and SQF standards
5. Experience with lean manufacturing, SOP creation, and continuous improvement
6. Budget management experience—ideally overseeing $15M+ in variable cost centers
7. Comfort with ERP systems and a willingness to adapt to new platforms
8. Experience managing inbound and outbound inventory, especially with perishable items, lot/batch traceability, and procurement of both direct and indirect materials
9. Grit, accountability, and a passion for operational excellence in the food space

Company Description

Mangrum Solutions is a boutique executive search firm. We specialize in matching top-tier professionals with leading manufacturing companies across the US. Our mission? Enrich lives with unparalleled career opportunities and empower organizations with the exceptional talent they need to fuel growth and bring their vision to life.