Plant Manager

About the Company

For over 60 years, Branding Iron Holdings (“BIH”) has been producing high quality beef and pork products while delivering customized solutions to the food service and retail trade industries. With an eye to the future, BIH has put a strong focus on building internal talent and on leveraging unique product lines and national distribution to drive continued growth. Guided by a strong set of core values (Respect, Integrity and Stewardship), reflecting a culture of servant leadership at every level, BIH’s team works hard to foster a culture that embraces and builds meaningful, long-term relationships with both employees and its customer base. Newly acquired by Kingswood Capital Management (“Kingswood”), Branding Iron Holdings is positioned even more for growth and success.

About the Role

The Plant Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of plant operations at our Sauk Rapids facility, including production, maintenance, quality, sanitation, warehouse, and safety. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role serves as a key member of the operations leadership team and is responsible for driving operational excellence, developing high-performing teams, and executing strategic initiatives that support company growth. The Plant Manager will foster a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement while ensuring compliance with USDA, food safety, and regulatory requirements. This leader must be equally comfortable setting strategic direction and working alongside the team to solve day-to-day operational challenges in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Through strong leadership, lean manufacturing principles, and data-driven decision making, the Plant Manager will drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, cost, and overall plant performance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a growth-centric plant leader – identify and implement process improvement and change management initiatives to support BIH’s strategic goals. Streamline operational strategies and lean initiatives with plant leadership across locations. Model and exemplify core values with integrity and ethics to ensure a positive workforce culture.
• Empower a high-performing production team – provide inspirational leadership for a team of people leaders, including day-to-day oversight for safety, production, quality, sanitation, maintenance, and warehouse management. Ensure the right people are in the right seats, partnering closely with HR to proactively attract, engage, and retain a high-performing workforce. Communicate a roadmap for growth with meaningful KPIs.
• Energize and transform operational practices – identify and implement action plans for plant improvements. Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring adherence to safety standards and compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Support the development of next-level policies and programs to achieve best-in-class quality and safety programs. Promote optimal functioning and longevity of equipment through proactive management of physical assets.
• Lead lean and continuous improvement initiatives – introduce lean and continuous improvement to drive a healthy culture of accountability, collaboration, and ownership. Lead initiatives aimed at waste reduction, process optimization, and cost savings. Track impact on operational efficiency. Utilize a data-driven approach to corrective action planning and root cause analysis. Identify and implement best SOPs and empower the team to drive innovation. Partner with sister plants to streamline best practices across sites.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive plant operations and/or direct plant management experience, including a minimum of 5+ years of oversight for a team of people leaders.
• Demonstrated record of success leading team(s) within a USDA processing site, including strong know-how in lean manufacturing and substantial experience in manufacturing leadership roles.
• Prior experience as a Plant Manager or Operations Director in a small-to-mid-sized facility or Operations Manager in a large-sized processing site is desired.
• Strong skills in lean manufacturing and leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Process transformation know-how.
• Experience communicating a vision and roadmap with patience and clarity to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Well-versed in budget management, project management, and data analysis.
• Willing to serve as a hands-on leader with the ability and desire to flex between strategic and tactical priorities.
• Superior project management skills and a proactive mindset.
• Strong people leadership skills and emotional intelligence. Ability to inspire and motivate, manage conflict, and foster a healthy organizational culture.
• Proactively communicate in a transparent manner and confidently interact at all levels with diplomacy and tact.
• Savvy with technology, including Microsoft Office Suite and various ERP systems.
• Four-year college degree is required. MBA or advanced degree and/or relevant certifications a plus.

Location & Travel

This role is based at our Sauk Rapids, MN plant and requires onsite leadership as well as occasional travel (approx. 10%) to other plant locations in Minnesota and Illinois. Relocation stipend is available.

Pay

Competitive base salary of $140,000 to $150,000 annually. Base salary is one component of a competitive compensation package for employees. Roles are eligible for additional rewards, including an annual incentive program based on individual and company performance.

Benefits

• Full benefits package, including medical, vision, dental, and life insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off.