Assistant Plant Manager

The Assistant Plant Manager supports the Plant Manager in the overall leadership, daily operations, and performance of the manufacturing facility. This position provides hands-on leadership across production, maintenance, sanitation, quality, food safety, inventory, safety, and workforce management to ensure the plant operates safely, efficiently, and in accordance with company standards and regulatory requirements.

The Assistant Plant Manager serves as a key member of the plant leadership team and acts as a primary point of support for supervisors and production employees. This role is responsible for helping execute operational plans, monitor plant performance, resolve day-to-day issues, develop employees, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

The Assistant Plant Manager works closely with the Plant Manager and many cross-functional departments to support production schedules, customer requirements, employee engagement, and overall plant performance. This position may assume overall plant leadership in the Plant Manager's absence.

This position will need to be able to work various shifts (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) over a 6 month training period. Once training has been completed, a set shift will be assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership & Daily Plant Management

• Support the Plant Manager in providing leadership and direction for daily plant operations.
• Serve as a visible leadership presence throughout the facility and promote a culture of safety, accountability, Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, leads, and production employees to improve performance and engagement.
• Assist with establishing departmental goals, performance expectations, and operational priorities.
• Monitor daily plant activities and ensure production, maintenance, sanitation, quality, and staffing priorities are effectively coordinated.
• Assist with employee performance management, conflict resolution, attendance issues, and enforcement of company policies and procedures.

Operations & Production Management

• Assist in directing production activities to meet daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules while maintaining safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency standards.
• Monitor production performance, labor utilization, equipment performance, downtime, yields, and operational efficiency.
• Identify operational issues and work with supervisors and appropriate departments to implement timely corrective actions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives designed to increase productivity, reduce waste, improve equipment reliability, and control operating costs.
• Conduct regular plant floor inspections and address operational issues as they arise.

Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with all OSHA, environmental, and company safety standards.
• Maintain compliance with SQF, USDA, FSMA, HACCP, customer, and internal quality requirements.
• Participate in safety investigations, corrective actions, audits, inspections, and safety improvement initiatives.
• Reinforce proper use of personal protective equipment, safe work practices, equipment procedures, and housekeeping standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Supply Chain, Logistics, Customer Service, Quality, Human Resources, and Accounting teams to support production schedules, customer requirements, and business objectives.
• Assist in coordinating inventory planning, material procurement, transportation activities, and customer fulfillment to ensure uninterrupted operations and exceptional service levels.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with vendors, customers, regulatory agencies, and other key stakeholders with the plant manager.

Staffing & Workforce Development

• Collaborate on recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and retention efforts for plant personnel.
• Ensure staffing levels support operational requirements while developing a highly skilled and engaged workforce.
• Promote employee development through coaching, training programs, leadership development, and succession planning initiatives.

Equipment & Facility Oversight

• Ensure the safe and efficient operation of plant equipment and facilities, including forklifts, front-end loaders, skid steers, and other industrial machinery.
• Assist in oversight of facility maintenance, asset management, and capital improvement projects to support operational excellence and future growth.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive manufacturing, processing, or production leadership experience.
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory or management experience leading production employees and/or supervisors.
• Strong knowledge of OSHA regulations, workplace safety programs, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing/processing environment.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and improving operational performance.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• USDA-regulated manufacturing experience.
• Forklift certification and operational experience.
• Front-end loader operation experience.
• Skid steer operation experience.
• Experience within agriculture, feed, pet food, food processing, rendering, or manufacturing environments.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement training.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in an office and plant floor environment with frequent movement between locations throughout the day.
• Regular exposure to production areas where noise levels may range from moderate to high.
• Exposure to varying temperatures, dust, odors, moving mechanical equipment, and outdoor weather conditions when performing plant inspections or overseeing operations.
• Frequent walking throughout the facility to monitor operations, conduct inspections, and support production activities.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, squat, climb stairs, reach, push, pull, and use hands and arms to operate equipment and perform job duties.
• Ability to work safely around forklifts, front-end loaders, skid steers, conveyors, processing equipment, and other industrial machinery.
• May be required to operate industrial equipment, including forklifts, front-end loaders, skid steers, and other material handling equipment, as business needs dictate.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication methods.
• Ability to inspect equipment, review production processes, and perform visual quality assessments throughout the facility.
• Occasionally required to climb ladders, access elevated platforms, or enter confined operational areas while following all safety protocols.
• Must be able to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• May be required to work extended hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, or respond to operational emergencies as necessary to support plant operations.
• Occasional travel to other company facilities, customer locations, training events, or industry meetings may be required.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Operational Excellence
• Team Building & Development
• Safety Leadership
• Financial Acumen
• Continuous Improvement
• Decision Making & Problem Solving
• Conflict Resolution
• Workforce & Succession Planning
• Communication & Collaboration
• Accountability
• Change Management