Plant Manager - Bakery Mix

The Mennel Milling Company•Newton, NC

About The Position

In this role, you will help sustain Mennel’s tradition of excellence established in 1886 as well as support our food safety programs and mission to reliably deliver superior quality, uniformity, and service. The Plant Manager is a high-impact, hands-on leader responsible for the safe, efficient, and strategic operation of the entire facility. This individual must demonstrate a strong presence on the production floor, serve as a visible change agent, and inspire teams to reach new levels of performance. The Plant Manager is accountable for cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, and uncompromising commitment to safety, quality, and compliance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Milling Science, Food Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field—or equivalent experience.
Minimum 6-10 years of progressive leadership experience in a food production environment, with a strong track record of results and change leadership.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, coach for performance, and drive sustainable improvements.
Strong operational acumen, critical thinking, and decision-making ability under pressure.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
Strong passion for hands-on leadership, with a bias for action and ownership of plant outcomes.
Solid understanding of GMPs, HACCP, OSHA, FSMA, GFSI, and other regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

Follow all food and personal safety rules and regulations in respect to GMP’s, OSHA, HACCP, the Global Food Safety Initiative, the US FDA Food Safety Modernization Act as stated in the FS&Q Statement, and sanitation guidelines as set forth by the company as listed in Corporate Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) and attend all required training sessions. Maintain the department/facility in an everyday audit ready condition.
Overall responsibility for personnel safety, product quality, food safety, operational performance, environmental, health, and safety compliance, all local, state, and federal standard compliance, and otherwise, the overall performance of the entire plant operations.
Uses the Corporate Mission, Quality, and Safety Statements as guiding principles in the decision-making process to ensure the highest standards of personnel safety, product quality, food safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance.
Develop and maintain an “always audit-ready” mindset with rigorous adherence to internal and external food safety and quality standards.
Lead by example with a visible, engaged presence on the production floor, demonstrating genuine ownership and passion for plant operations.
Actively drives a culture of accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement across all functional areas.
Set a clear, strategic vision for the plant with actionable goals; lead the team through successful implementation and sustainable change.
Be a catalyst for transformation by identifying operational inefficiencies and spearheading initiatives that result in measurable improvements through continuous improvement efforts.
Empower supervisors and staff through coaching, development, and high expectations, building leadership strength at every level. Instill a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset in response to production or quality challenges; foster a collaborative, problem-solving work environment.
Communicate effectively at all levels—from the plant floor to senior leadership—translating goals into daily actions and results.
Understands the business in which we operate and knows how the inputs and outputs affect the end results.
Serve as the site leader for the HACCP team, document control, and grain quality processes, and act as the backup for key plant personnel.