Manufacturing Plant Manager

Plant Manager

The Plant Manager will direct, oversee, and optimize all daily operations of our food/beverage production facility. The successful candidate will be responsible for maximizing production efficiency and yield while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, product quality, and employee safety. This role requires a hands-on leader with deep expertise in regulatory compliance (such as FDA, USDA, or CFIA), sanitation protocols, and modern automated processing systems.

Responsibilities:

• Food Safety, Quality, & Regulatory Compliance
• Enforce compliance: Ensure the facility meets or exceeds all strict industry regulations, including FDA, USDA, OSHA, EPA, and local health department requirements.
• Audit readiness: Oversee and guarantee continuous audit readiness for SQF, BRC, or IFS Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certifications.
• HACCP management: Direct the implementation and maintenance of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs and Preventive Controls (PCQI).
• Sanitation protocol: Manage the plant's Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and Clean-in-Place (CIP) systems to prevent cross-contamination or allergens.

Operations

• Optimize production: Direct high-speed processing, packaging, and filling lines to meet strict daily throughput targets.
• Yield management: Monitor ingredient usage, minimize raw material shrinkage, and optimize batch yields.
• Cold chain & storage: Ensure proper climate, refrigeration, and environmental controls are maintained for raw ingredients and finished goods throughout processing and warehousing.

Financial Management & Continuous Improvement

• Cost control: Manage the facility's operational budget (OPEX), controlling labor, energy, utilities, and raw ingredient waste.
• Lean execution: Apply Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma methodologies to minimize downtime during product changeovers (allergen washes, flavor transitions).
• Capital expenditures (CAPEX): Collaborate with executive leadership to plan and execute equipment upgrades, expansion of production lines, and automation integration.

Leadership & Culture

• Build a safety culture: Foster a zero-accident workplace mindset for both occupational safety and food handling safety.
• Labor relations: Manage a multi-shift workforce, overseeing hiring, training, retention, and performance management for production supervisors and floor staff.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in food science, Chemical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical field. An MBA is an asset.
• Experience: 7–10+ years of manufacturing experience, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership role
• Certifications: Active certifications in HACCP, PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual), and a recognized GFSI scheme (like SQF or BRC) are highly preferred.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of thermal processing, mixing, high-speed packaging equipment, CIP systems, and predictive maintenance.
• Skills: Exceptional crisis-management skills (e.g., handling ingredient shortages or quality holds) and clear communication abilities.

Company Description

KMR Innovations is a progressive and forward-thinking company with more than 30 years expertise in executive talent assessment and placement. Our years of experience have guaranteed a strong foundation in the knowledge and resources required for finding, assessing and training quality talent. We pride ourselves in using a multidimensional process that best aids organizations and individuals in finding the right corporate fit. Working both nationally and internationally, KMR strongly believes in maximizing your involvement in key processes along the way, while minimizing your workload.

Company DescriptionKMR Innovations is a progressive and forward-thinking company with more than 30 years expertise in executive talent assessment and placement. Our years of experience have guaranteed a strong foundation in the knowledge and resources required for finding, assessing and training quality talent. We pride ourselves in using a multidimensional process that best aids organizations and individuals in finding the right corporate fit. Working both nationally and internationally, KMR strongly believes in maximizing your involvement in key processes along the way, while minimizing your workload.