Assistant Plant Director-Evap

Join the Our Talent Network•Batavia, NY

2d•$160,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Plant Director is a key operational leader responsible for planning, directing, and controlling the activities of the plant’s processing, batching, packaging, and quality operations. This role supports the Director of Milk Balancing & Fluid Plant Operations in executing strategic initiatives, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, and leading teams to achieve excellence in safety, quality, service, and cost. The Assistant Plant Director fosters a culture of accountability, communication, and transparency (ACT), driving continuous improvement, innovation, and workforce development across all production functions. The Assistant Plant Director is accountable for the deployment and management of the Seven for Success program, driving and improvement strategy and ensuring the successful tracking of plant performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
7 + years of food or dairy manufacturing experience with at least 5 years in management.
Deep expertise in milk balancing, evaporation, and RTD beverage blending.
Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance, food safety, and quality systems (PMO, SQF, HACCP).
Proven ability to lead large, diverse teams with strong interpersonal, communication, and emotional intelligence skills.
Proficiency in ERP systems, production analytics, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership Oversee all operations within the specialty beverage RTD packaging and Evaporated milk lines.
Establish, review, and execute plans for production outputs, labor effectiveness, material efficiency, and cost management.
Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, PMO, SQF, HACCP, and customer-specific standards.
Lead the site Maintenance team in managing plant reliability processes and R&M spend utilizing a TPM strategy.
Ensure facilities and equipment are optimally operated, maintained, and improved to meet operational requirements.
Strategic Planning & Optimization Define and recommend objectives for plant operations in alignment with company strategy.
Partner with leadership on capacity planning, capital projects, and adoption of new technologies.
Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives to drive operational efficiencies and reduce waste.
Use operational data and KPIs to analyze performance, identify variances, and implement corrective actions.
People Leadership & Culture Direct, develop, and retain production and Maintenance staff through performance management, succession planning, and training.
Foster a culture of accountability, open communication, innovation, and continuous improvement at all levels.
Ensure efficient staffing, workforce engagement, and adherence to company policies.
Champion ACT (Accountability, Communication, Transparency) principles across the plant.
Financial & Performance Management Assist in managing budgets, cost controls, and financial reporting for the plant.
Develop annual operating plans, performance goals, and balanced scorecard metrics.
Identify and implement cost savings and process improvement initiatives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and Corporate Leadership to align operational performance with strategic goals.
Support workforce development, innovation, and succession planning across all operational teams.