Job Duties and Responsibilities

Develop and implement key manufacturing plans to achieve budgeted unit cost and output objectives.

Coordinate activities across all manufacturing functional areas to ensure alignment with plant goals and customer quality requirements.

Maintain and enhance production capacity, develop contingency plans, and implement strategies to minimize inventory levels.

Develop and monitor the annual operating budget to measure progress toward plant objectives.

Stay updated on production methods, regulatory requirements, and analytical techniques, and create improvement action plans as needed.

Lead and develop plant personnel through recruitment, training, and coaching, fostering a team-based environment.

Implement and manage safety and regulatory programs to ensure long-term safe operations.

Collaborate with Purchasing and Quality Assurance to establish and monitor quality specifications for raw materials.

Assist Quality Assurance with the development and improvement of products and processes, overseeing experimental runs and reporting results.

Manage the inventory of off-spec materials and coordinate rework processes as necessary.

Oversee the maintenance of production logs and OEE systems to maximize operational efficiency.

Ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations related to the manufacture of food-grade products.

Build and maintain positive relationships with the local community and manage Business Development Managers and Customer Service teams.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Minimum 10 years of management experience in a food-grade operation.

Strong background in packaging facilities.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

In-depth knowledge of plant operation procedures and business system software.

Strong analytical and organizational abilities.

Proven experience in supervising and developing teams.