Assistant Plant Manager

Leprino; Allendale Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid parental leave

Tuition assistance

Job summary

A leading dairy ingredient manufacturer in Michigan is seeking a Plant Production Manager to oversee production for cheese, nutrition, and processing teams. This role requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and over 12 years of experience in food manufacturing. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and direct experience in managing department teams. The company offers competitive salaries, bonuses, and a range of benefits to support a diverse workforce.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in food manufacturing.
• 5+ years of experience in leadership roles.
• Direct leadership experience over department managers.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant-wide production across cheese, nutrition, and processing teams.
• Develop department managers and supervisors.
• Build the site production plan with supply chain and quality.

Skills

Leadership

Food Safety Standards Knowledge

Manufacturing Systems Proficiency

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Technology

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

SAP

Job description

Within our 300-person manufacturing facility in Allendale – Leprino is seeking a Plant Production Manager (Internally: Production Manager II-level) to help us scale dairy ingredient output while keeping safety, quality, and consistency tight. We take pride in our “world’s best” ambition, and we back it with investment, steady improvement, and a focus on hiring great people.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead plant-wide production across cheese, nutrition, and processing teams so we hit daily plans.
• Guiding and developing department managers and supervisors.
• Set the daily and weekly operating cadence: direction setting, shift handoffs, escalation paths, and follow up.
• Build the site production plan with supply chain, maintenance, and quality so priorities stay aligned.
• Decide the run strategy and staffing plan based on capacity, constraints, and equipment readiness.
• Review yields, losses, downtime, and sanitation performance, then assign actions with owners and dates.
• Partner with maintenance on downtime reviews, PM priorities, and shutdown planning to stabilize throughput.
• Oversee sanitation and food safety readiness, including microbiological controls and corrective action follow through.
• Lead safety routines and learning after incidents so improvements stick across all shifts.
• Plan and track labor and department budgets, balancing cost, service, and product quality.
• Write and refresh leader standard work and training plans so expectations stay consistent across teams.
• Build transparent, collaborative relationships across the plant so teams solve problems early.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• A bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Technology, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience.
• 12+ years of experience in food manufacturing, with broad exposure to production and sanitation.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience, including direct leadership of department managers.
• Proficiency using manufacturing systems and standard computer tools, with the ability to learn SAP.
• Prior experience as a Plant Production Manager or Plant Manager in a food manufacturing facility.
• Direct leadership experience over other people managers as part of your core scope. Experience limited to frontline supervisor leadership will not align with this role.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• Experience in dairy or cheese manufacturing, particularly in packaging or processing operations.
• A master’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Technology, or a closely related field.
• Prior leadership experience in dairy or cheese manufacturing, including complex, multi-department operations.
• Familiarity with HACCP, GMPs, and sanitation programs that protect food safety and product quality.

At Leprino, we believe in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual’s unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino’s history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We’ve grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the “World’s Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company.” From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?

While we review LinkedIn Easy Apply submissions and may reach out for an initial conversation, they are considered an inquiry rather than an official application. To be formally considered for this position, please apply directly at careers.leprino.com.