Plant Manager - Minnesota

What We’re Seeking

A results-oriented, people-focused leader, reporting to the Senior Director of Operations, MN, who is passionate about building high-performing teams and driving operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Champion a culture of safety and regulatory compliance across all facilities and shifts.
• Partner with the onsite EHS Manager to implement and continuously improve environmental, health, and safety programs.
• Lead incident investigations and ensure effective corrective actions are implemented.
• Monitor safety performance and drive accountability for achieving safety objectives.
• Lead emergency response and business continuity efforts as needed.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, regulatory, and company requirements.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and R&D to maintain product specifications, process controls, and quality standards.
• Lead corrective actions resulting from audits, customer complaints, and non-conforming products.
• Support customer, regulatory, and third-party audits.
• Foster a culture of food safety ownership throughout the operation.
• Lead production, warehouse, shipping, and receiving operations across assigned facilities.
• Ensure safe, efficient, and timely execution of production and customer service requirements.
• Drive operational excellence through labor optimization, waste reduction, inventory accuracy, and process standardization.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Logistics teams to align operational capabilities with customer demand.
• Ensure consistent execution of standards and best practices across all shifts and sites.
• Monitor operational performance and implement actions to achieve safety, quality, service, and cost objectives.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans and budgets.
• Drive improvements in productivity, yield, inventory performance, and operating costs.
• Monitor key performance indicators and implement actions to improve business results.
• Support capital planning and execution of strategic projects.
• Lead regular reviews of operational scorecards, KPIs, and business metrics to assess performance, identify trends, prioritize improvement opportunities, and ensure timely execution of corrective action plans.
• Prioritize equipment and facility improvements based on business, safety, and food safety needs.
• Support asset reliability, equipment uptime, and capital improvement initiatives.
• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team.
• Lead succession planning and workforce development initiatives.
• Establish accountability and performance expectations throughout the organization.
• Coach and develop managers, supervisors, and emerging leaders.
• Foster a culture of engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement across all facilities and shifts.
• Partner with Continuous Improvement leadership to identify and execute operational improvement initiatives.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and operational excellence programs.
• Promote data-driven decision making, structured problem solving, and standardization.
• Collaborate with R&D and cross-functional teams to successfully commercialize new and revised products.
• Support plant trials, process validation, and manufacturing readiness activities.
• Provide operational expertise to improve manufacturability, efficiency, quality, and cost.
• Partner on initiatives that support cost optimization, supply continuity, and process improvement.

What You’ll Need

• Knowledge of electric and manual pallet jacks and forklifts.
• Experience with ERP and manufacturing execution systems.
• Productivity and compliance software experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, engineering, operations management, food science, or related field.
• 8–10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• 5+ years leading managers and supervisors in a food manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading multi-shift and multi-site operations.
• Demonstrated success improving safety, quality, service, cost, and people performance.
• Strong financial, leadership, communication, and employee relations skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• JD Edwards (preferred).
• HACCP, PCQI, Lean Six Sigma, or related certifications.
• SQF/GFSI audit experience.
• Advanced safety training.
• Experience in refrigerated food manufacturing environments.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Must be highly motivated and willing to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to work effectively with employees at all levels and from diverse backgrounds.
• Able to work in refrigerated temperatures (32°F–45°F) as required.
• Able to continuously stand, walk, or sit for extended periods.
• Able to occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb, balance, push, and pull.
• Able to occasionally lift and carry up to 45 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.
• Able to travel to and from MN facilities.

How You’ll Find Success At EAS

• Value People Most of All: Show respect & care, embrace diversity, and empower others.
• Commit to Safety Everyday: See something say something do something, practice safe behavior, and celebrate safety success.
• Invest in Our Company to Thrive: Share ideas to improve, learn & grow, and embrace change.
• Think Before Doing and Act Decisively: Make thoughtful decisions, work together to find solutions, and do what’s right.
• Welcome Constructive Straight Talk: Be honest and respectful even when difficult, be open to ideas and feedback, and ask questions to understand.
• Serve Up Exceptional Experiences: Provide value to customers, take pride in your work, and help others to be successful.
• Enjoy What You Do! Have a positive attitude, Live the Spirit of E.A. Sween, and celebrate success.