Plant Manager

Ice River Sustainable Solutions•Shelburne, ON

7d•Onsite

About The Position

At Ice River Sustainable Solutions, we are building more than products. We are building careers with purpose. As a proudly Canadian, family-owned leader in sustainable manufacturing, we transform 100% recycled plastic into innovative solutions used across North America. Sustainability is not just something we talk about; it is built into everything we do. We move fast. We solve problems. We take pride in doing meaningful work that makes a real impact. We invest in our people, promote from within, and create real opportunities for growth across our organization. If you are someone who rolls up your sleeves, thinks creatively, and is ready to grow with a company that is redefining sustainable manufacturing, this could be your next move. Role Overview The Plant Manager is accountable for the overall performance of the Shelburne Water facility, leading all aspects of operations including production, maintenance, quality, and warehouse. This role requires a hands-on, operationally strong leader with deep experience in high-speed bottling or food and beverage manufacturing environments. As a key leader within Ice River Sustainable Solutions, the Plant Manager will drive operational excellence, ensure equipment reliability, and build a high-performing team culture focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. A strong maintenance and technical foundation is critical to success in this role, enabling proactive decision-making, effective troubleshooting, and long-term reliability planning.

Requirements

Minimum 10+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing, including 5+ years as a Plant Manager or equivalent senior leadership role
Mandatory experience in food, beverage, or bottling manufacturing environments
Strong maintenance background (Millwright, Electrician, or hands-on technical leadership experience strongly preferred)
Proven experience operating in high-speed production environments with a focus on equipment reliability and uptime
Post-secondary education in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field is preferred
Strong operational leadership with the ability to drive results through others
Deep understanding of high-speed bottling equipment, maintenance systems, and production processes
Hands-on, solutions-oriented leader with strong troubleshooting capability
Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment
Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Experience driving continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of the organization
High sense of ownership, accountability, and urgency

Nice To Haves

Millwright
Electrician
hands-on technical leadership experience

Responsibilities

Lead all day-to-day plant operations to achieve safety, production, quality, and cost targets
Own and deliver on all key performance indicators including OEE, labour efficiency, yield, downtime, and service levels
Ensure effective production planning, line loading, and resource allocation
Maintain strong floor presence to drive engagement, accountability, and operational discipline
Provide direct oversight of maintenance strategy and execution to maximize uptime and equipment performance
Ensure robust preventive and predictive maintenance programs are in place and adhered to
Lead root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions for recurring downtime issues
Partner closely with maintenance leadership to build technical capability across the team
Leverage hands-on technical knowledge to support troubleshooting and decision-making in a bottling environment
Ensure full compliance with all quality standards, including HACCP, SQF, and internal quality systems
Maintain strong knowledge of regulatory requirements including CFIA, Health & Safety, and environmental standards
Lead audit readiness and execution, ensuring all regulatory and customer expectations are consistently met
Oversee inventory management, material flow, and warehouse operations to support production and customer delivery
Collaborate with supply chain, logistics, and customer service teams to ensure service targets are achieved
Optimize inventory levels and minimize waste or disruption
Lead, coach, and develop a team of supervisors, maintenance leaders, and frontline employees
Build a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement
Set clear expectations, monitor performance, and provide ongoing feedback and development opportunities
Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies for plant employees
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, cost reduction, and throughput
Analyze performance gaps and implement data-driven solutions
Manage plant operating budget, including labour, overhead, and production costs
Support capital planning and execution of equipment and process improvements