Job Description

Job Title:                    Plant Manager

Employment Type:     Full Time

Department:                Operations

Reports To:                 VP Operations, US Manufacturing & Production

Back-up:                     Press Manager/PCE Manager

Working Hours:          Mon – Fri 8am-5pm; on call after hours & weekends

Location:                    TPT Plant

FLSA:                         Salary Exempt

Overall Focus:

The Plant Manager is responsible for the management of the manufacturing facility through effective controls that ensure employee safety, base condition maintenance of assets, and elimination of variability impacting product quality.  In addition to these responsibilities, the Plant Manager is tasked with overseeing the implementation and monitoring of key performance metrics to ensure operational efficiency, quality standards, customer delivery and safety protocols are consistently met. The Plant Manager actively develops and refines processes to optimize overall plant performance, playing a pivotal role in contributing to the organization’s broader goals.

Primary Responsibilities and Essential Functions

• Oversee and manage the Targeted Pet Treats manufacturing and maintenance teams.
• Meets or exceeds operational and business performances while minimizing unnecessary costs.
• Lead by our core values focused on zero accidents, zero defects, zero unplanned controllable downtime & zero service failures.
• Maintains and analyzes production reports including OEE, downtime, and labor/overtime to develop improvement plans.
• Implements plans in alignment with strategic initiatives and provides a clear sense of direction and focus to the team.
• Allocates resources effectively and fully utilizes assets to produce optimal results.
• Implement effective systems and processes to monitor, control, and improve operating expenses.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify opportunities for cost containment and waste elimination.
• Develops capital justifications to improve safety, quality, cost, and efficiency.
• Maintains and supports a superior housekeeping program.
• Communicates in any situation adversely impacting safety, quality, efficiency, or business promptly.

Team Management

• Creates and executes staffing plans in partnership with HR.
• Prepares and updates work schedules to ensure sufficient coverage to ensure production and maintenance commitments are met.
• Addresses employee issues promptly.
• Plays a strategic role in the development and training of the production and maintenance employees.
• Conducts performance appraisals and provides ongoing coaching, mentorship, and guidance to plant and maintenance employees.
• Ensure all employees follow company and departmental SOPs.
• Conducts routine monthly meetings with the staff on the overall performance of the operation and business.
• Participates in planning and implementation of employee engagement initiatives together with Human Resources.
• Ensure consistent and effective communication with other departments and senior management.
• Consistently demonstrates positivity, authority, and credibility with direct reports, peers, and other plant employees.

Interdepartmental Relations

• Works closely with Production Planning & Inventory Control Manager to ensure production schedules are met while operating at the highest efficiency possible.
• Assist the Quality team with any SQF requirements, customer and regulatory agency audits as needed.
• Produces and presents weekly production reports and other KPIs as required by senior management.
• Maintains and supports supplier-contractor relations.
• Works with all departments aligning resources to deliver against business requirements in the areas of cost, financial controls, quality, delivery, safety, and business initiatives.

Health and Safety

• Champion and foster an environment grounded in safety.
• Actively participates in safety meetings, inspections and initiates the completion of open agenda items.
• Ensures all health and safety training is implemented in the required timeframe.
• Ensures all employees are aware of area hazards, safety policies, and practices.
• Enforce health and safety programs and policies.

Qualifications – Knowledge and skills necessary to meet organizational objectives.

• 10+ years of progressive and demonstrated management experience in a production or packaging facility is required.
• Preferably, post-secondary education in business administration, manufacturing management, or related field of study.
• Proven ability to drive results.
• Exceptional multitasking skills.
• Highly developed communication and people management skills.
• Analytical, entrepreneurial, leadership, and mechanical skills.
• Self-directed, highly disciplined, and able to recognize and pursue opportunities not identified by others.
• Strong safety leadership experience and a safety-first mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to create and/or manage systems or processes necessary to achieve zero accidents zero defects and zero unplanned downtime.
• Maintaining confidentiality when dealing with employee matters.
• Good command of MS Office applications.
• Recognizes and values diversity and has experience working with diverse groups of employees.
• Willingness and capability to fulfill the needs of the business succession plan.

Knowledge and Skills

• Live by the TPT Core Values.
• Follow all policies and procedures.
• Responsible for Food Safety including Food Defense.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Dress appropriately & maintain good personal hygiene.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills; excellent attention to detail.
• Problem solving and analytical skills.
• Thorough understanding of Microsoft Office software including Microsoft Outlook.
• Strong typing and filing skills.
• Able to multi-task as assigned.
• Assume responsibility for self-improvement & the improvement of others.
• Availability to work outside normal working hours.
• Ability to work within aggressive timeframes.
• Time-management skills – develop and adhere to a schedule.
• Ability to complete tasks within allotted timeframes.
• Ability to learn in a fast-paced environment.
• Superb communication and listening skills.
• Adaptability & change

Physical Requirements – Necessary to perform essential job functions with or without accommodation.

• Ability to regularly function in a typical office environment and operate related equipment – computer, copier, telephone, etc., as well as low risk manufacturing environment – able to observe and get around equipment.
• Must be able to talk, sit for long periods of time, listen, & speak clearly.
• Frequent need to stand, stoop, walk.
• Ability to lift 50lbs. if needed.
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
• The ability to occasionally travel by plane, car or other ground transportation as needed.

5. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job description at any time.