Reports to: CEO

Non Exempt

Role Description

The Plant Manager is responsible for all activities relating to the production facility performance. This manager will be responsible for managing multiple managers across 3 shifts at a 24/5 operation and will provide direction and create cohesion across shift operations. The Plant Manager will be responsible for leading the production team to meet production metrics while maintaining the highest level of quality and safety. This leader will have proven success developing new processes and programs and is adaptable to change with skills in change management and developing and cultivating a team. The ideal candidate will have a hands on approach and leadership style that is flexible and focused on improving people and processes. The Plant Manager will work cross functionally with various departments where effective communication will be essential for success.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND JOB TASKS

• Lead team of 2 Production Managers, and 5 Supervisors over 3 shifts to achieve production metrics.
• Manage production and sanitation within quality specifications, time demands, and with safety as a top priority while ensuring that all responsibilities of direct reports are accomplished on a shift to shift basis.
• Partner cross functionally with Maintenance, Quality, R&D, Human Resources, Accounting/Finance, and Marketing to share best practices and ensure open dialog to maximize efficiencies and output of high quality products.
• Use continuous improvement methodologies and projects to improve and streamline production processes to improve efficiency and maximize safety.
• Support long and short-term corporate planning while implementing and directing manufacturing activities to ensure that these goals are met.
• Ensure complete compliance with general Safety, Quality, HR and performance operating guidelines.
• Participate in audit activities and efforts to ensure compliance to internal and external standards (SQF, GFCO/Organic/Non-GMO/Kosher, customer audits, etc).
• Follow, and ensure all employees follow all SQF practices and applicable regulatory requirements as trained and directed by management.
• Monitor, track and report on daily & weekly KPI’s and generation of performance data.
• In partnership with the CFO, monitor and track the budget of the production and sanitation functions, effectively controlling expenses, labor costs, and production waste/variance.
• In partnership with HR, provide employee coaching and development, promote employee engagement, and the execution of positive employee relations’ strategies, make employment recommendations and employee development decisions in conjunction with people philosophy, and resolve employee issues through progressive discipline.
• Evaluate labor utilization, job responsibilities and duties. Anticipate staffing opportunities and coordinate training, career path opportunities, and succession planning to minimize downtime and maximize operational effectiveness.
• Sets an example of leadership, through transparency, accountability, and personal professional development.
• All other tasks related to production as directed by the CEO.

REQUIRED SKILL, ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong organization skills to balance various initiatives and projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and project management skills including team leadership, delegation, negotiation, and effective communication.
• Ability to empower, motivate, inspire team, lead change and execute strategic decisions.
• Ability to coordinate with various team members and leaders to ensure production is consistent across multiple shifts.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions and provide data driven solutions as needed.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagrammatic or other form and make information accessible to employees of various levels of skill.
• Responsible for the knowledge, understanding, and enforcement of all company policies and regulations.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• 7+ years in the Food/Beverage or other CPG industry
• Bachelor’s degree preferred in a related field including manufacturing, engineering or food science
• Experience working in high paced, high SKU environment
• PCQI Certified or willing to gain Certification
• HACCP Certification or willing to gain Certification
• SQF Practitioner or willing to gain certification
• Understanding of food safety risks, including allergen safety, CCPs, cleaning procedures, etc.
• Attention to detail
• Working knowledge of Excel, Word, and Google Suite (Google Doc, Sheet, Gmail, etc.) or willingness to learn

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Schedule: 9am-5pm with flexibility and availability to come in earlier or stay later when necessary for team training, problem solving, process monitoring, etc.
• Production Monday through Friday across three shifts: (1) 6am-2pm (2) 2pm-10pm (3) 10pm-6am
• Required to be available overnight 1-2 nights per month to monitor third shift production
• This position frequently requires standing, walking, and using hands and fingers to feel materials or handle equipment. This position requires sitting and reaching with hands and arms.
• Lifting/pushing/pulling/carrying up to 50 pounds.

BENEFITS

Benefits for full time employees include partial employer funded medical, dental, vision, employer funded life insurance, 401k with company match, paid time off, paid holidays, and commuter benefits.

ABOUT US

We are an inclusive food company that creates better food for our bodies, our communities and our amazing planet. Using seeds as our foundation, 88 Acres is redefining the world of free-from and plant-based foods. As a female founded/led and mission-driven company, we built our own bakery in the inner-city of Boston to fuel purposeful jobs into an area of need, ensure safety for those with food allergies and craft that made at-home goodness we all crave. At our certified top 9 allergen-free bakery, we create lines of Seed Butters, Seed + Oat and Protein Bars, and Seed’Nola (upcycled granola clusters that make 88 Acres a zero food waste operation). Since our launch in 2015, we've been fortunate to share our foods with some amazing partners and communities such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, Delta, Jamba, Boston Public Schools, and many more.