Plant Manager - Berkeley Culinary Center
About The Position
We are hiring a Plant Manager to lead and transform our Berkeley, Illinois, 125,000 square foot culinary manufacturing and warehousing facility—our largest operation and a key driver of future growth. This facility is undergoing significant transformation, requiring a leader who brings both strategic vision and disciplined execution. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of scaling operations, building high-performing teams, and driving continuous improvement in complex, high-volume environments. This role demands strong financial and operational acumen, along with the ability to establish structure, accountability, and consistent results. It offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of the facility—enhancing performance, strengthening culture, and delivering operational excellence—while playing a critical role in the Company’s broader growth strategy. This position is best suited for a leader with prior experience driving large-scale growth or transformation within food manufacturing or CPG environments. This role offers a salary range of $150,000 – $200,000 annually, based on skills, experience, and location. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, and paid holidays.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.
- 8-12+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods.
- Minimum 5 years in plant or senior operations management.
- Experience managing large teams (150+ employees preferred).
- Experience with cold chain operations, including frozen storage and fresh produce warehousing.
- Experience in high-volume manufacturing and packaging environments
- Strong knowledge of food safety standards (HACCP, GMP, FDA, USDA).
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Strong leadership, communication, and team development skills.
- Ability to analyze operational data and drive performance improvements.
- Experience with ERP, WMS, and manufacturing systems.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Financial & Analytical Acumen
- Continuous Improvement Mindset
- Project Management
- Advanced Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis
- Talent Development & Leadership
- Communication & Influencing Skills
- Operational Excellence & Standardization
- Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual Spanish highly preferred.
Benefits
- health
- dental
- vision
- 401(k) with company match
- generous PTO
- paid holidays
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Number of Employees
251-500 employees
