Plant Manager - Moses Lake, WA

Washington Potato Company; Moses Lake (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

NFF - Moses Lake is seeking a Plant Manager to provide overall leadership for the processing plant, focusing on safety, production efficiency, product quality, and regulatory compliance. You will oversee department managers and drive continuous improvement using lean manufacturing tools.

The role requires significant manufacturing and leadership experience, strong financial acumen, and a deep commitment to safety, HACCP, and regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Industrial Management, Engineering, Food Science, Management, or Operations.
• 7+ years of manufacturing experience.
• 4+ years in a significant plant leadership role.
• 2+ years lean manufacturing tool use and training.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for the processing plant and direct reports.
• Ensure personnel safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Drive lean manufacturing improvements and cost control.
• Develop and mentor department managers.
• Collaborate with HR and finance; manage assets.
• Establish succession plans and drive safety culture.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Problem solving

Financial acumen

MS Office

HACCP knowledge

WSDA/FDA experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

• Company: NFF - Moses Lake

Position Summary

As the Plant Manager you will provide overall leadership for the processing plant. Responsibilities include personnel safety, production efficiency, product quality, food safety, regulatory compliance, physical asset management, and cost control. Direct reports include the plant department managers.

Position Expectations

• “Hands‑on” manager who is highly motivated in the areas of employee safety, production efficiencies, quality, and drives continuous improvement using lean manufacturing tools and methods.
• Accountable for the achievement of KPI financial goals.
• Manages with passion and energy motivating teams through strong leadership skills that include valuing team members for their contributions.
• Assist department managers in developing and executing plant‑specific strategic vision, goals and objectives to assure continuous improvement and alignment with Company objectives.
• Drive employee engagement, training and development to optimize safety, quality, and productivity.
• Provide direct oversight to the various department managers including safety, quality, production, maintenance, planning, procurement, warehousing, logistics along with a strong connection to both finance and human resources.
• Provide leadership accountability for assessing and enhancing plant capabilities.
• Develop key manager succession plans and mentor key management members for both company and career success.
• Assure regulatory compliance including but not limited to OSHA, GMP, EPA, DOE, FDA, PSM, EEO, and NLRB.
• Develop a culture based on open/honest dialog and involvement of all team members that demonstrates the value of their input/engagement in improving performance.
• Drive a culture of high performance and accountability in employee and product safety as well as other aspects of the business.
• Collaborate with Human Resources and other functional leaders to create and execute effective employee relations processes and develop managers to do the same in order to maintain a positive working environment and support the overall employee experience.
• Goal oriented and team accountability including annual reviews with all direct reports.
• Any other duties assigned by the Sr. Director or Vice President of Manufacturing/Operations and/or company leadership.

Position Experience/Skills Requirements

• Manufacturing experience in food processing or related industry required to include experience with individually quick frozen (IQF) product manufacturing.
• Lean manufacturing experience and use of these programs and tools is preferred, including but not limited to GEMBA, 5S, RCA, VSM, Kaizen, TPM, OEE, etc.
• Manages with passion and energy motivating teams through strong leadership skills that include valuing team members for their contributions.
• Ability to create/maintain a positive team culture.
• Change Management skills required including project management.
• Experience with WSDA/FDA preferred.
• Business, analytical and financial acumen required.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation skills required.
• Strong analytical problem solving.
• Computer knowledge and ability to learn and navigate reports and MS office suite.
• Have working knowledge of HACCP and food production quality programs.
• Experience with and successful management of state and local regulatory agency standards.

Education Requirement

• Bachelor’s Degree required (i.e. Business, Industrial Management, Engineering, Food Science, Management, Operations).

Experience Requirement

• 7+ years manufacturing experience required.
• 4+ years’ experience in a significant plant leadership role preferred.
• 2+ years of lean manufacturing tool use and training experience required.