Plant Operations Leader: Lean, Safety & Quality

The Judge Group, INC.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Judge Direct Placement seeks a Plant Manager in the San Francisco, CA area to oversee all plant operations, including production, quality control, and safety. The role requires strategic leadership to align operations with business goals and drive continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate brings 7–10 years in manufacturing, strong Lean experience, and proven ability to lead a diverse unionized workforce while managing budgets and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years experience increasing levels of responsibility in a manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years experience implementing Lean Manufacturing.
• Strong leadership background - ability to direct a diverse unionized workforce.
• Financial/budget management experience.
• Capital project development, cost estimation, and management skills.
• Proven negotiation, management, interpersonal, coaching, and team-building skills.
• Production Engineering knowledge.
• Ability to interface with regulatory agencies.
• Exceptional verbal/written communication.
• Ability to manage and develop employees.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to plant operations, ensuring alignment with objectives and long-term goals.
• Lead and optimize manufacturing and operational processes to maximize efficiency and productivity.
• Build and promote a collaborative, accountable, high-performing culture that drives engagement and excellence.
• Ensure product quality and operational standards are met through regulatory compliance and internal specs.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and quality.
• Direct and manage utilization of personnel, equipment, and materials to meet production objectives.
• Champion safety by enforcing policies, conducting audits, and driving risk-reduction efforts.
• Maintain compliance with food safety regulations and audits, serving as primary contact during inspections.
• Oversee plant financial performance by managing budgets and controlling costs.
• Establish, track, and analyze KPIs to measure success and drive improvement.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Leadership

Budget Management

Regulatory Compliance

Negotiation

Coaching & Team-Building

Interpersonal Skills

Production Engineering Knowledge

Managing Unionized Workforce

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Judge Direct Placement seeks a Plant Manager in the San Francisco, CA area to oversee all plant operations, including production, quality control, and safety. The role requires strategic leadership to align operations with business goals and drive continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate brings 7–10 years in manufacturing, strong Lean experience, and proven ability to lead a diverse unionized workforce while managing budgets and regulatory requirements.