Plant Operations Manager
About The Position
The Plant Operations Manager oversees the daily operations of Holly Poultry’s food plant, ensuring production is efficient and cost-effective while meeting quality standards. The role leads production staff, manages schedules, and ensures compliance with safety and regulatory requirements. The manager develops and implements production schedules, monitors production performance and quality, tracks yield and labor, reviews variances with Finance, and reports on service and production KPIs. The position also coordinates maintenance inspections and repairs; supervises, mentors, and develops staff; and works with Quality Assurance to maintain quality controls and documentation. Additional responsibilities include overseeing raw material inventory and coordination with procurement, warehouse, and sales; managing production budgets; identifying process and equipment improvements; and analyzing downtime with other departments to address root causes. The role works with the Plant Manager on continuous improvement initiatives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- At least 5 years of experience in a production management role within the food industry.
- Strong understanding of food safety regulations and quality control standards.
- Proven leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
- Proficiency in production management software and the MS Office Suite.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Must successfully pass a post-offer/pre-employment drug and background screen.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or a related area.
- Bilingual English and Spanish skills.
- Experience working in a unionized environment.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement production schedules to meet customer demands and optimize plant efficiency.
- Monitor production processes for schedule adherence and quality standards.
- Track and report yield and labor by item and production line.
- Review variances to standard and work with Finance to adjust as needed.
- Report production service levels and KPIs, including fill rates, hours worked versus targets, pounds per man hour, and headcount.
- Coordinate inspections and repairs with maintenance teams.
- Supervise and mentor production staff, including line workers, supervisors, and other operations personnel.
- Conduct performance evaluations and provide training and development opportunities.
- Ensure products meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.
- Work with QA to maintain and enforce quality control procedures and documentation.
- Enforce safety policies and procedures to maintain a safe working environment.
- Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, including HACCP and SQF.
- Oversee raw material inventory and coordinate with procurement to ensure timely supply.
- Coordinate with warehouse personnel on product storage, shipping practices, and order fill rates.
- Communicate with sales about production issues, order shorts, and new item creation specifications.
- Manage production budgets and control costs without compromising quality.
- Work with the Plant Manager to identify ways to improve production processes.
- Identify equipment opportunities and assist plant management with equipment location, process implementation, and tracking equipment use after installation.
- Record and analyze production downtime and liaise with other departments to address its root causes.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
