Plant Manager

UNC Dairy•City of Syracuse, NY

30d•$140,000 - $195,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Plant Manager provides strategic and hands-on leadership to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality dairy production. This position is accountable for daily operations, including production, maintenance, quality, and workforce development. The Plant Manager drives a culture rooted in the Seven For Success (SFS) framework — championing safety first, maintaining the highest quality standards, improving productivity, strengthening customer service relationships, promoting open communication, developing employees through training, and fostering continuous improvement in every process. This individual serves as a key member of the Operations Leadership Team and collaborates across departments to support growth, modernization, and organizational excellence.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in food or dairy manufacturing.
Strong knowledge of GMP, SQF, HACCP, and other regulatory standards.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage change.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ERP systems (SAP experience preferred).
Proven track record in performance improvement, budget management, and employee development.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
Must be available for extended hours or weekend work as needed to support operations.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Food Science, or Related Field.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily production operations, directing all plant operations to ensure production schedules, quality standards, and cost targets are achieved.
Maintain effective communication across shifts to ensure consistent performance.
Ensure food safety and regulatory compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations (FDA, USDA, HAACP, OSHA, SQF, etc.).
Partner with Quality Assurance to uphold product integrity and food safety systems.
Support internal and external audits, customer visits, and certification renewals.
Lead and develop plant personnel by coaching, mentoring, and developing supervisors and frontline employees to foster a culture of accountability and teamwork.
Conduct performance evaluations, identify high-potential talent, and implement development plans.
Monitor plant performance metrics such as throughput, yield, OEE, quality, and labor efficiency.
Analyze data to identify trends, drive problem-solving, and ensure timely corrective action.
Manage budget and cost control by developing and managing annual operating budgets and capital plans.
Monitor expenses, control variances, and identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or safety.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives by leading Lean, Six Sigma, and CI efforts to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
Engage teams in identifying process bottlenecks and implementing sustainable improvements.
Coordinate cross-functional collaboration by partnering with quality, maintenance, supply chain, finance, and HR to achieve business objectives.
Support enterprise initiatives including SAP integration, sustainability projects, and workforce development.
Ensure maintenance reliability by overseeing preventive and predictive maintenance programs to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.
Collaborate with maintenance and engineering to plan and execute upgrades and capital projects.
Champion employee safety and engagement by promoting a proactive safety culture with zero tolerance for unsafe practices.
Lead monthly safety meetings, audits, and engagement activities to build ownership at all levels.
Plan for production capacity and growth by developing and executing long-term operational strategies that align with cooperative growth objectives.
Prepare for product innovation, new technologies, and changing customer demands.