Plant Manager

Surge Staffing•Columbus, OH

63d•$130,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are conducting a confidential search for an experienced Plant Manager to lead a growing, state-of-the-art food manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ohio. This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on manufacturing leader to take ownership of overall plant operations, drive operational excellence, develop high-performing teams, and help shape the continued growth of a modern production facility. The facility features advanced, high-speed production capabilities and is continuing to expand its manufacturing operations.

Requirements

5–10 years of plant management experience with progressively increasing leadership responsibility
Experience in high-volume, high-mix manufacturing environments
Proven P&L responsibility and knowledge of budgets and financial statements
Demonstrated success with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement
Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, SQF, sanitation, food safety, and plant maintenance
Strong understanding of OSHA and regulatory compliance
Proven ability to develop managers, supervisors, and production teams
Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively with both shop-floor employees and executive leadership
Experience with ERP systems and Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Business, Food Science, Engineering, Science, or a related field preferred
Food or baking manufacturing experience preferred

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership and direction for plant operations and functional departments
Develop and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with business objectives
Drive safety, food quality, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance
Lead Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, root-cause analysis, and waste reduction initiatives
Establish and manage operational KPIs, including Right First Time performance
Oversee production planning, capacity, labor, resources, and operational priorities
Develop annual operating plans, budgets, capital projects, and long-term strategic initiatives
Lead succession planning, workforce development, and organizational growth
Coach and develop managers and supervisors to build a high-performing team
Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, SQF, HACCP, GMP, and applicable regulatory standards
Support sustainability and zero-waste initiatives
Partner with union representatives and participate in contract negotiations and grievance resolution
Collaborate across departments to improve reliability, productivity, quality, and cost performance