Plant Manager

L.A. Darling Company LLC

As a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings—which is backed by Berkshire Hathaway—you’ll be doing things that matter, leading at every level, and winning a better way. We’re committed to making a positive impact on the world, providing you with diverse learning and working opportunities, and fostering a culture where everyone’s empowered to be their best.

The Plant Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and long-term planning of the site(s). This role ensures that all production activities align with organizational goals for safety, delivery, quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. The Plant Manager will lead a team of manufacturing, quality, HSE, logistics, procurement, and continuous improvement professionals to drive operational excellence. They will work collaboratively with Sales, HR, Finance, and NPD to ensure company goals are achieved.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Alignment and Execution
• Develop and execute strategic plans for manufacturing operations to support company growth and objectives.
• Align production targets with corporate goals, ensuring production efficiency, quality, and delivery timelines are met.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to integrate corporate initiatives into plant operations, ensuring consistency and compliance with standards.
• Lead annual planning for the plant, including budgeting, production forecasting, and resource allocation to achieve strategic targets.
• Operations Management
• Oversee daily plant operations to meet production goals safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
• Apply best practices in resource allocation, process optimization, and production scheduling to enhance productivity.
• Manage supply chain activities, including procurement and inventory control, to ensure materials availability and reduce downtime.
• Quality Management
• Implement a quality management strategy aligned with organizational goals and customer expectations.
• Standardize quality processes across production to minimize variability and defects.
• Foster a culture of quality, encouraging proactive identification and resolution of quality issues among employees.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align plant operations with broader business strategies.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including finance, sales, HR, sourcing, and engineering, to ensure cohesive project implementation, resource sharing, and aligned objectives
• Act as a key point of contact for client and supplier relationships related to plant operations.
• Regularly communicate with group leadership regarding plant performance, challenges, and strategic priorities.
• Operations and Performance Management
• Manage day-to-day manufacturing operations to meet production and efficiency targets.
• Implement operational standards across departments, including production, quality, maintenance, and logistics.
• Drive cost control, productivity improvements, and process optimization using data analysis, KPIs, and Lean methodologies.
• Continuous Improvement
• Develop and drive a CI strategy to enhance plant performance.
• Cultivate a continuous improvement culture, encouraging employee engagement and innovation.
• Lead and prioritize CI initiatives across functions to achieve operational excellence, and track results against KPI targets.
• Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations, fostering a culture of safety across all levels.
• Work with the EHS manager to implement safety programs and conduct audits to reduce operational risks.
• Address incidents and compliance issues, applying corrective actions as needed.
• People Development and Leadership
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and high performance to support individual and organizational growth.
• Build a collaborative plant culture that drives high performance and accountability.
• Partner with HR to implement training and development programs, ensuring upskilling and succession planning for key roles.
  
  

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Experience: 10 years of experience in manufacturing, with at least 5 years in a senior plant leadership role.
• Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, lean principles, quality control, supply chain management, and financial acumen.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead large teams, drive cultural change, and develop a high-performance workplace.
  
  

Key Competencies

• Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data to make strategic decisions.
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of presenting complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Decision-Making: Effective at making timely, informed decisions in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing conditions, embrace innovation, and drive continuous improvement.
• Results-Oriented: Track record of achieving measurable improvements in delivery, quality, efficiency, and cost savings.
• Strategic Agility: Ability to align plant and corporate goals, prioritize objectives, and adapt strategies to changing demands.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with stakeholders across departments and reporting structures.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Skilled in leveraging KPIs, financial metrics, and operational data to drive continuous improvement.
• Change Management: Proficient in leading change within dynamic environments, balancing competing priorities and fostering buy-in from multiple stakeholders.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead, influence, and motivate both team and peers in a dynamic environment.
  
  

Following receipt of a conditional offer of employment, candidates will be required to complete additional job-related screening processes as permitted or required by applicable law.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to their membership in any protected class. If you require any reasonable accommodation to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email your request to careers@marmon.com, and please be sure to include the title and the location of the position for which you are applying.