About the Role
The Plant Manager will be responsible for driving operational performance, developing cohesive high-performing teams, and achieving safety, quality, cost, delivery, and engagement goals in alignment with company objectives.
Key Activities
Leadership & Team Development
Direct and develop a workforce of ~200 employees across Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, Receiving, and Shipping.
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning.
Build strong, collaborative relationships with supervisors, leads, and cross-functional partners.
Implement training and succession planning to strengthen leadership capabilities at all levels.
Operational Excellence
Manage a 24/6 manufacturing operation with four production lines.
Lead daily production planning, resource allocation, and workflow optimisation to meet output and quality targets.
Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and standard work practices to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Drive continuous improvement projects, leveraging root cause analysis and problem-solving tools.
Safety, Quality & Compliance
Ensure full compliance with food safety regulations (FDA, SQF, HACCP, GMP).
Promote a zero-incident safety culture through proactive EHS initiatives.
Maintain high product quality and consistency through systems, training, and accountability.
Financial Ownership
Own plant-level budgeting, including labour, materials, and overhead.
Monitor and improve financial performance using P&L analysis, KPI dashboards, and cost-saving initiatives.
Lead capital project evaluations, ROI justification, and implementation.
Strategic Execution
Align plant operations with corporate goals, including capacity, yield, service levels, cost, and innovation.
Lead cross-functional initiatives with engineering, quality, R&D, supply chain, and HR.
Identify opportunities for automation, technology upgrades, and process standardisation.
Preferred Skills
Strong financial acumen with hands-on experience managing budgets, P&L statements, and cost-reduction projects.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, coaching, and change management skills.
Knowledge of food safety standards (FDA, HACCP, SQF, BRC) and EHS compliance requirements.
Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field required.
8–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in food or CPG manufacturing (baked goods preferred).
Demonstrated success managing a plant or major production area of similar scale (100+ employees, multi-line operations).
About Us
Finding a great opportunity that fosters growth, a great culture, and leadership opportunities can be difficult. Top Quality Recruitment (TQR) connects professionals with leadership opportunities across the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Medical Devices, and Biotechnology industries. With 50+ years of experience, we believe in one-to-one communication and finding the best candidate/employer match possible.
TQR is an equal-opportunity employer that encourages diversity. We will consider all applications.
Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request.
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