PLM & Product Data Manager

MINIAT HOLDINGS LLC • South Holland, IL

13h • $86,250 - $112,250 • Hybrid

About The Position

The PLM & Product Data Manager owns Miniat’s Product Lifecycle Management platform, currently Infor PLM for Process (Optiva), and the standards used to manage product data. This role improves product information, specifications, workflows, change control, and PLM adoption across both business units, Miniat Meats and South Chicago Packing. The Manager also leads the Regulatory Specialist and provides senior review for complex labeling, nutrition, ingredient, claims, and specification matters.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Regulatory Affairs, Information Systems, Data Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• 7 or more years of progressive experience in PLM, product data, specifications, regulatory affairs, labeling, commercialization, quality systems, or a related function in a USDA- or FDA-regulated environment.
• Experience leading PLM, specification, master-data, workflow, governance, system implementation, data cleanup, or process-improvement work.
• Experience with product specifications, formulas, ingredients, nutrition information, labels, claims, approvals, or related technical records.
• Working knowledge of food labeling, ingredient requirements, standards of identity, claims support, and product-data governance.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or providing sustained technical leadership.
• Strong communication, facilitation, analytical, project-management, and cross-functional influence skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and experience with PLM, specification, ERP, workflow, or reporting systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Infor PLM (Optiva) or a similar formulation, specification, or PLM platform.
• Experience in food or protein manufacturing, ingredients, oils, consumer packaged goods, or a multi-site regulated business.
• Experience with USDA label approvals, nutrition tools, customer portals, product certifications, packaging compliance, or supplier documentation.
• Training or certification in project management, change management, process improvement, data governance, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Own the PLM platform, product-data standards, governance, roles, access, workflows, and improvement roadmap.
• Partner with Information Technology and system providers on configuration, testing, releases, support, security, integrations, and reporting.
• Set standards for formulas, specifications, ingredients, allergens, nutrition data, labels, claims, packaging, certifications, approvals, and product records.
• Improve data quality through required fields, business rules, exception reporting, periodic reviews, and corrective action and create accountability within the organization for other users that enter data into the Optiva or designated PLM tool.
• Lead cleanup of incomplete, duplicate, outdated, or unclear product records.
• Design and improve PLM workflows for product setup, development, approvals, commercialization, changes, obsolescence, and record retention.
• Define required information, approvals, handoffs, service expectations, and completion standards.
• Partner with Growth & Innovation, FSRA, Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, Sales, Customer Service, and other teams to support timely product decisions and launches.
• Resolve recurring process, ownership, system, and data issues that cause delay, rework, or compliance risk.
• Maintain practical procedures, work instructions, process maps, training, and user guidance.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex product labeling, ingredient, allergen, nutrition, claims, specification, and approval matters.
• Translate applicable USDA, FDA, customer, state, and certification requirements into clear product-data standards and controls.
• Set review standards and approve higher-risk or escalated work within assigned authority.
• Support customer, certification, third-party, and regulatory audits related to product information and records.
• Lead and develop the Regulatory Specialist; set priorities, quality standards, workload expectations, and escalation practices.
• Delegate defined regulatory work while retaining appropriate review and approval accountability.
• Track data quality, workflow aging, cycle time, first-pass quality, rework, adoption, and issue resolution.
• Prioritize improvements based on business value, risk, customer needs, and available resources.
• Build user capability through training, tools, and clear accountability.

Benefits

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• Discretionary bonus up to 15% (50% personal performance based & 50% company performance)
• 401(k) with matching up to a max of 4%
• 120 hours PTO in the 1st 12 months

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior