Plant Director

About the role

Liberty Coca‑Cola Beverages LLC is committed to creating a workplace that reflects the vibrant communities it serves, where every associate feels valued, supported, and inspired to grow. The Director, Manufacturing Operations (Plant Director) leads all manufacturing activities at the Philadelphia Production Center, providing strategic and operational leadership across Production, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Inventory Control, Engineering, and Continuous Improvement to ensure safe, efficient, and cost‑effective production of high‑quality beverages.

Responsibilities

• Operational Leadership: Provide overall leadership and direction for the Philadelphia manufacturing facility, ensuring alignment with Liberty Coca‑Cola’s strategic objectives; deliver plant performance against safety, quality, service, cost, and productivity targets; lead daily, weekly, and monthly operating reviews; ensure compliance with Coca‑Cola quality standards, food safety requirements, GMPs, and all regulatory requirements.
• Safety & Quality: Champion a world‑class safety culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA, environmental, and Liberty Coca‑Cola safety standards; lead initiatives that reduce safety incidents, improve risk identification, and strengthen associate engagement; partner with Quality Assurance leadership to maintain product integrity, consumer safety, and regulatory compliance; ensure corrective actions are implemented effectively and sustainably.
• Manufacturing Excellence: Drive continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Operational Excellence, and root‑cause problem‑solving; optimize production capacity, labor utilization, line efficiency, changeover performance, waste reduction, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE); lead plant productivity initiatives that improve operational performance while reducing costs; identify and implement best practices across manufacturing operations.
• Financial & Business Management: Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets; achieve financial objectives related to labor, materials, maintenance, utilities, and operating expenses; evaluate capital investment opportunities and develop business cases supporting productivity improvements, capacity expansion, and asset reliability; monitor and improve plant financial performance through effective planning and resource allocation.
• People Leadership: Build, develop, and retain a high‑performing leadership team; provide coaching, development, and succession planning for managers and supervisors; foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, teamwork, and employee engagement; lead labor‑relations activities in partnership with Human Resources, including union interactions where applicable.
• Supply Chain & Technology: Partner with Planning, Logistics, Procurement, and Commercial teams to align production plans with customer demand; leverage SAP and manufacturing systems to improve visibility, inventory accuracy, production planning, and operational performance; support digital transformation and technology initiatives that enhance manufacturing effectiveness and decision‑making.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; Master’s Degree (MBA or Engineering discipline) is a plus.
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in beverage, food, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or other high‑speed production environments; minimum 5 years leading multiple manufacturing functions through managers and supervisors; demonstrated success managing safety, quality, maintenance, production, and financial performance within a large‑scale manufacturing facility; experience operating within a unionized environment preferred; experience with Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, TPM, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence methodologies preferred; strong experience managing capital projects and large operational budgets.

Skills

• Strong understanding of beverage manufacturing, packaging, maintenance reliability, and supply chain operations.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and drive business results.
• Excellent financial acumen, budgeting, and strategic planning skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Advanced communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high‑performing teams.
• Proficiency with SAP, manufacturing systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Commitment to creating an inclusive, diverse, and engaging workplace culture.

Preferred Leadership Competencies

• Safety First Leadership
• Strategic Thinking
• Operational Excellence
• Results Orientation
• Talent Development
• Change Leadership
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Financial Accountability
• Continuous Improvement Mindset
• Customer Focus

Benefits

Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, 401(k) and more.

Additional Information

Liberty Coca‑Cola Beverages LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For additional information, please visit www.libertycoke.com.