Plant Manager

The Plant Manager is responsible for leading day-to-day manufacturing operations and operational performance of a beverage production facility. This role has full accountability for site execution, labor, safety, equipment reliability, and cost performance, while operating within a matrixed organizational structure that includes close partnership with corporate Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR functions.

The Plant Manager will play a critical role in restarting an idle facility, building and leading the site operations team, establishing operational systems and culture, and ensuring alignment with corporate standards and objectives. The role carries site-level P&L accountability and serves as the primary operational interface between the facility and corporate leadership.

The Plant Manager has direct leadership and accountability for the following departments:

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  Blending

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  Production

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  Maintenance

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  Facility Sanitation

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  Warehouse

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  Shipping & Receiving

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  Security

• Lead all day-to-day plant operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant execution across blending, production, maintenance, sanitation, warehousing, and shipping.

• Drive the restart and ramp-up of an idle beverage manufacturing facility, including equipment commissioning, staffing, and process stabilization.

• Establish and maintain operational rhythms, KPIs, standard work, and accountability systems.

• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all workplace safety requirements.

• Own site-level P&L performance, including labor, conversion costs, maintenance spend, and operating expenses.

• Develop and manage the site operating budget in collaboration with corporate Finance.

• Monitor financial performance, analyze variances, and implement corrective actions as needed.

• Identify and execute productivity, efficiency, and cost improvement initiatives.

• Partner closely with corporate Quality to ensure food safety, regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and adherence to quality standards.

• Collaborate with corporate Supply Chain and Planning teams to translate demand plans into executable production schedules.

• Maintain strong working relationships with corporate Finance and HR through regular communication, reporting, and coordination.

• Support new product introductions, process changes, and scale-up activities in collaboration with corporate teams.

• Build, hire, and develop a high-performing operations leadership team and hourly workforce.

• Execute hiring, training, performance management, and disciplinary actions in partnership with corporate HR.

• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement across the site.

• Ensure appropriate staffing levels to meet production and service requirements.

• Execute production plans to meet service, quality, and cost targets.

• Ensure effective labor planning, material flow, equipment uptime, and throughput.

• Monitor and improve key performance indicators including efficiency, downtime, scrap, yields, and service levels.

• Ensure proper maintenance, sanitation, and upkeep of all plant equipment and facilities.

• Drive preventative maintenance programs to support uptime and asset longevity.

• Ensure site security protocols are implemented and maintained.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in food or beverage manufacturing with progressive leadership responsibility.

• Proven experience leading manufacturing operations within a matrixed organization.

• Prior experience in juice, beverage, or liquid food manufacturing strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through startup, restart, or significant operational change.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing cost drivers and operational KPIs.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Hands-on, floor-oriented leadership style.

• Ability to spend extended periods on the production floor.

• Willingness to work flexible hours as required during startup and ramp-up phases.