Assistant Plant Manager

The Assistant Plant Manager is a key operational leader responsible for managing all aspects of the Operations and CI departments in a high-volume food manufacturing facility. This role ensures that safety, quality, efficiency, and cost targets are met while fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations across multiple lines to meet output, quality, and safety goals.
• Supervise and develop production supervisors and frontline teams. Larger or more complex plants will also include Operations Shift Managers that report into the Assistant Plant Director.
• Lead continuous improvement activities for the site, including direct supervision of the CI Manager.
• Monitor and improve KPIs including throughput, yield, labor efficiency, and downtime.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards (e.g., SQF, HACCP, GMP) and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve issues and optimize performance, will be a leader amongst peers on the Plant Leadership Team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using TPM or other methodologies.
• Support, and lead, capital projects and equipment upgrades within the production and warehouse areas.
• Lead process to create Site Masterplan, lead GAP closure updates, and ensure the site is embracing and owning the SHOP principles.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a production leadership role
• Strong understanding of food safety, manufacturing processes, and labor management
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage change, and deliver results
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Experience with ERP systems and production planning tools