PLANT OPERATIONS MANAGER

AMPI; Blair (NE); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

PTO

401k

Short-term disability

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Employee assistance programs

Job summary

AMPI is seeking a Plant Manager for its Blair, Nebraska facility to lead daily dairy production, quality, and safety programs. You will oversee budgets, staff, and continuous improvement initiatives to meet cost and quality targets.

Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with SQF, HACCP, GMPs, OSHA, and ERP systems, while building a high-performance team and partnering with brand owners to drive profitability and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, manufacturing or similar areas preferred.
• Five years’ experience in dairy or food production, manufacturing, industrial process operations or equivalent.
• Three years of supervisory experience required.
• Knowledge of budgets and financial statements preferred.
• MS Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Oracle ERP or other ERP systems is preferred.
• Knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMPs, OSHA and loss control programs is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage plant operations with focus on safety, quality, and profitability.
• Monitor quality specifications for milk, whey, and cheese production and ensure records compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement for SQF Level 2 program and act as backup SQF practitioner.
• Ensure SOPs for equipment and processes are implemented and followed.
• Oversee budget adherence and implement cost-saving measures.
• Hire, train, and evaluate staff; plan and assign work; provide performance feedback.
• Collaborate with brand owner leadership to drive accountability and improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Budgets

Problem solving

Communication

MS Office

ERP systems

SQF

HACCP

GMPs

OSHA

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in food science/manufacturing or similar

Bachelor’s degree in Management

Five years’ experience in dairy or food production

Three years of supervisory experience

Tools

Oracle ERP

Job description

Job Category: Management, Business & Financial

Requisition Number: PLANT004019

• Posted : August 7, 2026
• Full-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

AMPI owns six Midwest-based manufacturing plants where 10 percent of the nation’s American-type cheese and processed cheese is produced. The cooperative’s award-winning cheese and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. In 2019, the co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled cheesemakers.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time:

1. All AMPI employees have an obligation to report employee safety, food safety and food quality issues to personnel of authority.
2. This position has a heightened food safety and food quality responsibilities.
3. Monitor quality specifications for milk, whey, and cheese production with awareness of customer expectations.
4. Maintain accurate and complete production records and charts.
5. Play an active role to inspect, review, and follow up on all plant and department audits.
6. Drive continuous improvement for the plant’s SQF Level 2 program while serving as backup SQF practitioner.
7. Leads and guides all quality, GMP, and food safety policies and procedures, reporting any nonconformity.
8. Must have a working knowledge of all equipment and processes and procedures to reduce downtime, reduce costs, and increase efficiency while meeting production deadlines.
9. Continually work with the cheese and whey department supervisors to reduce under-grade product.
10. Works within approved budget while developing and implementing cost saving measures which will contribute to overall profits and revenue to the organization.
11. Understands business implications of decisions while displaying an orientation to profitability.
12. Implement, and enforce SOP’s for each piece of equipment and all processes.
13. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of plant operations. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
14. Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement. Makes oneself available to staff, provides regular performance feedback, develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth.
15. Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals and adapts strategy to changing conditions.
16. Manages competing demands and changes approach or method to best fit the situation.
17. Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner by gathering and analyzing information skillfully. Works well in group problem solving situations and develops alternative solutions.
18. Creates a positive team with the ability to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives.
19. Ability to manage projects by creating workable plans; communicates changes effectively and builds commitment and overcomes resistance.
20. Develops realistic action plans, by prioritizing and planning work activities. Plans for additional resources as needed.
21. Ability to react well under pressure. Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position. Accepts responsibility for own actions and follows through on commitments.
22. Leads and guides all safety policies and procedures, reporting any nonconformity.
23. Be on call, reporting timely to the plant as needed, which may include any time outside of the normal scheduling including nights and weekends.
24. Build and maintain strong working relationships with brand owner leadership teams to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
25. Build a partnership with brand owner leadership teams, ensuring best-in-class safety, quality, service, and cost performance.
26. Other duties as assigned.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree in food science, manufacturing or similar areas preferred.
• Five years’ experience in dairy or food production, manufacturing, industrial process operations or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Working knowledge of budgets and financial statements preferred.
• Three years of supervisory experience required.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office including, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Oracle ERP or other ERP systems is preferred.
• Knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMP's, OSHA and loss control programs is highly desirable.

BENEFITS/REWARDS

• AMPI offers competitive starting pay, PTO, 401k, short-term disability, health, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance programs and more.

Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Military service members, veterans, and qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

Skills

Behaviors

:

Motivations

:

Education

Required

High School or better.

Preferred

Bachelors or better in Management.

Experience

Licenses & Certifications

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.