Plant Operations Manager

Industrial Resource Group; Beaver Dam (KY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Industrial Resource Group is seeking an experienced Plant Operations Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across a multi-department production facility. This role drives safety, quality, productivity, cost control, regulatory compliance, and workforce development while building a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

You will partner with senior leadership to execute business objectives and develop high-performing teams that support long-term success.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary production teams.
• Experience driving safety, quality, and cost performance.
• Strong track record in Lean Six Sigma and process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead production leaders, supervisors, and staff with coaching and mentorship.
• Develop succession planning and workforce development strategies.
• Establish proactive safety culture and regulatory compliance programs.
• Oversee HACCP, GMP, sanitation, and quality management systems.
• Drive process optimization, waste reduction, and equipment reliability.
• Monitor KPIs and report performance to executive leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Strategic planning

People development

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Job description

A manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Plant Operations Manager to provide strategic and operational leadership across a multi-department production facility. This position is responsible for driving performance in safety, quality, productivity, cost management, regulatory compliance, and workforce development while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. The Plant Operations Manager partners with senior leadership to execute business objectives and develop high-performing teams that support long-term organizational success.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Provide leadership, coaching, and mentorship to production leaders, supervisors, and support teams.
• Develop succession planning, workforce development, and talent acquisition strategies to strengthen leadership capabilities.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and employee engagement.
• Drive performance management initiatives that improve retention, productivity, and professional growth.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Establish and maintain a proactive safety culture throughout the facility.
• Ensure compliance with workplace safety, food safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead safety programs, audits, investigations, and corrective action initiatives to reduce operational risk.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee food safety and quality management systems, ensuring adherence to HACCP, GMP, sanitation, and internal operating standards.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives focused on process optimization, waste reduction, and product quality enhancement.
• Utilize Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to improve operational efficiency and performance.

Environmental Stewardship

• Ensure facility compliance with environmental regulations related to waste management, air quality, water systems, and hazardous materials.
• Support sustainability initiatives and implement programs that align with organizational environmental objectives.

Manufacturing Operations

• Direct daily manufacturing activities to achieve production schedules, customer requirements, and quality expectations.
• Optimize labor, equipment, materials, and other resources to maximize efficiency and control operating costs.
• Partner with maintenance and engineering teams to improve equipment reliability and minimize downtime.

Performance Management & Communication

• Monitor and report key operational metrics related to production, quality, safety, and financial performance.
• Analyze performance indicators to identify trends and implement corrective actions.
• Facilitate communication between plant leadership and executive management while promoting cross-functional collaboration.

Success Measures

• Achievement of production, quality, safety, and financial objectives.
• Reduction in workplace incidents and improvement in audit performance.
• Increased employee engagement, retention, and leadership development.
• Successful implementation of operational improvement and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Consistent compliance with regulatory and organizational standards.