Our client is one of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies, and is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2022 annual sales of $19B, the are one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, ranking 232 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 100 years of operation, they today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including Dairy Foods, Animal Nutrition, others. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries.

To continue their legacy of excellence, they re looking for a Plant Manager to provide leadership and overall direction for the Spencer Process Cheese and Specialty Powders facility in all areas of safety, quality, cost, service, and people. Responsible for driving improved performance, cost savings, customer relationships, plant asset utilization, and positive labor/employee relations. Responsible for facilitating collaboration between the plant and the cross functional team in an operating company model.

What YOU get to DO at the award winning Plant:

• Developing and executing the site budget within corporate guidelines. Ability to determine capital strategy and develop effective capital plans that ensure business objectives are met.
• Manage all plant resources to optimize profitability to meet or exceed internal and external targets including cost performance and productivity/CTS objectives. Ability to lead and direct the plant team in such areas as MY/shrink, reliability, and digital mfg initiatives. Must be able to create a positive work environment that supports continuous improvement, reinforces company philosophy and policies, and ensures a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Lead the initiatives that develops the skills and capabilities of both salaried and hourly team members, ensuring people development and effective training.

What you NEED to SUCCEED in this high profile role:

• 10 years progressive manufacturing experience in a plant with proven leadership qualities and a history of delivering sustainable results
• Bachelor's degree in Science/Food Science, Agriculture, Business Administration, Engineering or related education is required.
• Previous or current Plant Manager experience with accountability for all plant results.
• Dairy manufacturing experience required, with process cheese and specialty powder experience preferred
• Demonstrated success in Continuous Improvement principles LEAN/Six Sigma/TPM and CTS/Wave  Demonstrated success in developing people and teams in large complex mfg plants
• Develop, lead, develop and coach teamwork and collaboration within the entire site.  Proven track record with Mfg Transformation/change management that drives costs savings and improves overall plant culture
• Partner with business teams to ensure effective relationships with plant that creates positive and collaborative culture
• Ability to effectively lead the plant team and associates to achieve all plant goals
• Effectively interact with the corporate cross functional team to ensure plant and business objectives are met.
• Ability to lead and develop the plant staff in accordance with LOL Leadership Competencies that motives and engages team members at all levels in the plant
• Possess a passion for diversity and inclusion, leading diversity initiatives and delivering results
• Ability to lead the team to innovate, develop, and implement cost savings initiatives that drive improved cost/lb performance year on year
• Possess solid financial background and manufacturing experiences to understand daily, monthly, and annual impacts
• Experience in developing and executing financial and capital budgets
• Create a positive work environment that supports continuous improvement in all areas of the site.
• Direct activities in Employee Relations that drives development and accountability, as well as increases engagement and retention within the team
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills  Experience working for a Fortune 500 company highly desired
• Prefer Master's degree in related field
• Progressive manufacturing experience in a food or food-related
• Lean/Continuous Improvement certifications
• Prefer demonstrated success in union environments, contract negotiations, and Labor Relations

What's in it for YOU?

• Excellent Compensation Plan includes base salary and Comprehensive Benefits Package
• 30% variable comp bonus plan with triggers for high performance
• Highly Visible Leadership role with advanced growth opportunity
• Work in leading edge, state-of-the-art facility with the best technology available in the world
• Maintain award winning Quality Standards of excellence that you can be proud of