Plant Manager - Food Manufacturing

Description

We are Monarca Food Solutions (Evans / Palmex).  We are committed to our valued employees, leading innovation, quality, and community, proud to bring high quality snacking happiness to the hearts and bellies of our consumers daily.  If you are an individual who likes to be challenged and make a difference in a fast-paced team-oriented environment, look no further. Come join a company committed to its employees and inspiring wellness in consumers everywhere.

Competitive Benefits offered to employees:

• Low-cost Health, Vision and Dental insurance coverage
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Company paid Life Insurance
• Voluntary Life and AD&D insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match

We are hiring for a Plant Manager in our Greensboro, NC location.  The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and profitability of the Monarca Food Solutions pork rind manufacturing facility. This position provides strategic and operational leadership for all plant functions, including production, maintenance, engineering, quality assurance, food safety, sanitation, warehouse, shipping and receiving, inventory control, and employee development.

The Plant Manager is accountable for achieving safety, quality, customer service, productivity, and financial objectives while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. This role partners closely with Corporate Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, Sales, Procurement, and Research & Development to support business growth and ensure efficient, compliant manufacturing operations.

Essential Responsibilities

Leadership & Operations

• Provide visible leadership and direction for all plant operations.
• Develop, coach, and evaluate department managers and supervisors while building a high-performing leadership team.
• Establish operational goals and hold teams accountable for results.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop succession plans and strengthen employee engagement and retention.

Manufacturing & Production

• Direct all manufacturing activities, including pork rind preparation, frying, seasoning, packaging, warehousing, and shipping.
• Ensure production schedules are achieved safely, efficiently, and within quality standards.
• Optimize labor utilization, equipment performance, and production flow.
• Drive improvements in throughput, yields, product consistency, and operational efficiency.
• Minimize downtime, waste, scrap, and rework while maximizing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable FDA, OSHA, HACCP/HARPC, GMP, SQF/BRC, EPA, customer, and company standards.
• Maintain audit readiness and lead all customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Drive continuous improvement in food safety, sanitation, product quality, and customer satisfaction.

Maintenance & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize equipment reliability.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives that reduce costs, improve efficiencies, and enhance plant performance.
• Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, and process improvements.

Financial & Business Performance

• Manage plant operating budgets and control manufacturing costs.
• Improve manufacturing cost per pound through effective management of labor, utilities, maintenance, inventory, and waste.
• Partner with Finance to achieve annual operating plans and profitability objectives.
• Support new product commercialization and continuous business growth.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance is measured by achievement of key operational metrics, including:

• Employee Safety and OSHA performance
• Food Safety and BRC/FDA audit results
• Customer complaints and product quality
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Production schedule attainment
• Pounds produced per labor hour
• Yield improvement and raw material utilization
• Manufacturing cost per pound
• Waste, scrap, and dust reduction
• Inventory accuracy and on-time customer delivery
• Employee turnover, engagement, and leadership development
• EBITDA and overall plant financial performance

Requirements

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:  

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Food Science, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.

Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including at least five (5) years leading an entire manufacturing facility.
• Food manufacturing experience required; snack food, meat, protein, or pork rind manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success improving safety, quality, productivity, profitability, and employee engagement.
• Experience leading multi-shift manufacturing operations and implementing Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
• Thorough understanding of food manufacturing operations and regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, SQF, sanitation, preventive maintenance, and quality systems.
• Strong financial and operational acumen with experience managing budgets and manufacturing costs.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make sound business decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Working Conditions

This position works primarily in a manufacturing environment with regular exposure to production equipment, hot and refrigerated areas, noise, steam, and food processing operations. The Plant Manager must be able to routinely walk the production floor, wear required personal protective equipment, and work flexible hours as needed to support a multi-shift operation.

Success Profile

The successful Plant Manager is a hands-on leader who develops people, drives accountability, and delivers outstanding business results. Success is measured by building a safe, engaged workforce while consistently achieving operational excellence in safety, quality, service, productivity, and profitability.