Plant Manager Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in food engineering, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering or a related field or equivalent and 3 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing pilot-scale manufacturing facility, or shared research facilities.
• Strong leadership, project management, and customer-facing communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for all pilot plant equipment, systems, and facility infrastructure.
• Ensure proper development, implementation, and continuous improvement of operating procedures and training protocols for all processing and analytical systems.
• Oversee equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management, including coordination of repairs, preventive maintenance, and installation of new systems.
• Collaborate with the Director to design and implement effective sanitation, cleaning, and hygienic process systems that align with food safety and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain pilot plant orderliness and operational readiness.
• Oversee utility systems including steam, compressed air, chilled water, and HVAC in coordination with LSU AgCenter facilities to ensure reliable and safe plant operations.
• Actively set up, operate, monitor, and troubleshoot pilot-scale food processing and laboratory equipment during client and research trials.
• Lead and participate in production runs, ensuring adherence to safety, quality, and experimental protocols.
• Perform equipment adjustments, minor repairs, cleaning, and sanitation as needed to maintain operational integrity.
• Support other project leaders by assisting with plant trials and ensuring efficient workflow and resource utilization.
• Maintain a strong hands-on presence in the plant to ensure reliable execution of processing activities and continuous improvement of operational performance.
• Coordinate and collaborate with faculty, extension specialists, technical staff, students, and industry clients to achieve project objectives.
• Provide technical guidance on process feasibility, scale-up considerations, and equipment capabilities in support of commercialization and research initiatives.
• Support maintenance of pilot processing documentation and operational records.
• Identify and advance opportunities to enhance FOODii technical capabilities, equipment portfolio, facility infrastructure, and service offerings.
• Evaluate emerging processing technologies, instrumentation, and manufacturing approaches to strengthen applied research and commercialization outcomes.
• Recommend process improvements and workflow efficiencies that enhance safety, quality, client satisfaction, and operational sustainability.

Benefits

• Retirement
• Multiple medical insurance options
• Supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.)
• Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some childcare and medical expenses)
• University holidays (14 per year)
• Generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System