General Manager

Overview

About Ajinomoto:

Welcome to Ajinomoto Foods North America in Toluca, Illinois—a place where we’re not just leading the way in food manufacturing but also proudly embracing our role within this close-knit community. As our team rapidly expands, we’re dedicated to offering quality jobs that reflect our passion for community, collaboration, and a positive workplace culture. We’re looking for individuals who share our commitment to making a meaningful impact both within our plant and in the surrounding areas.

Ajinomoto Foods North America is a global leader in frozen foods, renowned for delivering nutritious and delicious meals to households everywhere. With a rich history of diverse ethnic brands, we’re on a mission to contribute to healthier lifestyles through our innovative and balanced Umami foods. Our commitment to excellence is evident not just in the quality of our products but in our dedication to our employees and our community.

Here in Toluca, our investment in expanding our facility and adding a new production line reflects our belief in growth and innovation. If you’re passionate about building a fulfilling career, being part of a great team, and helping to transform the way the world eats, we invite you to join us. Together, we can make a real difference—one meal at a time.

Job Description:

The General Manager will effectively manage, direct and control all operations of the plant to ensure established standards for product quality and safety, employee welfare and costs of operations are maintained through optimum use of personnel, materials, equipment and facilities while adhering to approved company policies. Be accountable for factory results through the coaching, developing and inspiring a high performing core team for Operations. Create an employee friendly environment where all employees are encouraged and developed to reach their full potential for long-term employee satisfaction. Support company customer service and inventory goals through direct management of purchasing, production scheduling, and product deployment. Interface regularly with other Ajinomoto Foods North America (AFNA) management to set and establish plant strategies, and guidelines meeting company short and long-term goals. Strategically lead plant operations to meet Quality, Safety, and Cost, optimizing resources and driving operational excellence. Build organizational capability through basic management systems (BMS), performance management cycle, developing a high-performing team, fostering our values, and aligning plant operations with overarching company objectives. Strengthen customer service and inventory performance through effective management and proactive alignment of production strategies with long-term business goals.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for desired factory results by providing visible leadership for the company's and factory's purpose, mission, and values through our total performance management (TPM) strategy, which includes goal alignment, employee involvement, root cause/countermeasure analysis, and loss reduction.
• Responsible for long-range planning, capital project executions, operational budgeting along with performance against that budget, cost reduction programs and factory total delivered costs.
• Build organizational capability by coaching and developing leaders at all levels to ensure a robust pipeline of talent.
• Model accountability by providing strong leadership and direction for the plant in all areas of responsibility including safety, quality, manufacturing, maintenance, materials management, administration, employee engagement and employee welfare.
• Work closely with corporate functional areas of AFNA, including the areas of production planning and inventory control, quality assurance, engineering, operational support & strategy, finance, purchasing and human resources. The position also interfaces regularly with R&D, marketing and sales to coordinate timely production and development of products and new processes. 
• Collaborate effectively with corporate teams and cross-functional departments to align plant strategies with overall company goals.
• Responsible for the facility's financial performance. Establish and manage an annual budget as well as operational performance to fulfill company revenue and cost-cutting goals. Control operating and capital expenses.
• Leverage data and analytics to identify operational improvements, track progress, and achieve performance goals. Prepare and deliver financial, performance, and operational reports to executive management, as well as recommendations.
• Set up key performance indicators (KPIs), meet with management monthly, and report on KPIs
• Drive sustainability initiatives by optimizing resources use, reducing waste, and ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
• Responsible for asset and facility stewardship, to include but not limited to, proper security for employees and the facility, fire prevention, facility, property and asset degradation.
• Foster a healthy team atmosphere in which employee needs and concerns are acknowledged and handled. Lead the team's recognition and celebration of accomplishments and behaviors.
• Create an environment where product quality and safety are identified as values. Work closely with Corporate EHS and FSQA to implement and enforce these quality standards and guidelines. Directs loss prevention and effort to reduce accident incident rates and workers compensation liability. Must ensure plant and personnel meet all government requirements including USDA, FDA, EPA, OSHA, CAL-OSHA, EEOC, local regulatory agencies, etc. 
• Implement initiatives to improve employee engagement and morale, fostering an inclusive and innovative workplace.
• Support the development of others (both salaried and hourly team roles) in technical and leadership capabilities to achieve a stronger one team culture.
• Establish and maintain a proper company image and good community relations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BS) preferred in a related technical or management discipline preferred with 8 years of hands-on experience, preferably in the food manufacturing or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• At least 5 years must include plant or operations management of a complex high speed/high volume production environments with a continuous improvement focus.
• Experience in USDA and/or FDA -regulated facilities required; Ready-to-Eat (RTE)operations experience is a plus.
• Proven ability to analyze and interpret manufacturing variances to ensure budget performance and drive financial results. 
• Solid understanding of financial budgeting, P&L management, product costing and profitability. 
• Strong leadership and team-building skills with a proven ability to inspire and develop talent. 
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills with the ability to balance, multiple priorities effectively.   
• Analytical and decision-making capabilities to assess variances and implement process improvements.
• Hands-on approach with strong floor presence and the ability to engage and motivate employees at all levels.
• Collaborative mindset with excellent interpersonal and communication skills to foster teamwork and alignment across functions.
• Commitment to continuous improvement safety and building a culture of excellence.