Plant Manager

Top Job

Located in Minneapolis, MN

Salary: $175-200k + bonus

Job Title: Plant Manager

Location: Inver Grove Heights, MN

Pay: $175-200k + bonus

 

We are seeking a Plant Manager for a high-growth, fast-moving small functional beverage company, scaling internal operations and driving innovation at a new expanded plant location. This is a hands-on, highly visible role where you’ll have the opportunity to directly influence operations, lead teams, and shape the next phase of our manufacturing growth.

 

We are seeking a Plant Manager to lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, material handling and FSQ, ensuring operational excellence with safe, efficient and reliable performance. This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in a hands-on, scaling manufacturing environment and enjoys building systems, teams, and processes as a company grows.

 

 

Responsibilities:

 

As a Plant Manager you will empower teams, foster collaboration, and align the manufacturing organization with the company’s vision and values.

• Lead all plant operations including production, maintenance, material handling and FSQ.
• Lead a team of Direct Reports & an extended team of ~40 employees, and oversee ~40 temporary production workers in a 70,000 square foot facility, ensuring clear accountability and efficient workflows.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members; foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Promote safety, inclusion, and alignment with the company’s values across all operations teams.
• Champion initiatives to enhance quality and team morale, reduce waste, and improve efficiencies and increased profitability
• Ensure full compliance with health, human and food safety regulations and prioritize initiatives to continually improve in these areas.
• Develop and lead the plant’s operational performance management system, including tiered daily management, KPI visibility, structured direction setting, and escalation processes to drive results across safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Develop and manage the plant’s operating and capital budgets while leading initiatives that improve line performance labor productivity and overall manufacturing efficiency
• Partner with R&D and project teams to support product innovation and the successful launch of new products.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing and Finance teams to support company priorities and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Participate in strategic planning sessions with cross-functional leadership team.
• Execute operational strategy, problem-solve day-to-day challenges, and implement process improvements.
• Support capital projects, vendor management, and operational readiness as new initiatives are introduced.
• Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across all operational areas.

 

 

Attributes:

• Experienced, passionate mentor who leads with empathy, empowering and developing high-performing teams to succeed and cultivate a culture of accountability and innovation.
• Strong communicator who can engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels, from team members to executive leadership, and across external partners.
• Champion of sustainability who aligns operational strategies with the company’s values, ensuring eco-friendly practices and ethical sourcing throughout the supply chain.
• Collaborative partner who fosters strong relationships with cross-functional teams, promoting teamwork and a growth mindset to support product innovation and operational scaling.
• Dedicated advocate for health, safety, and compliance, ensuring the highest standards for food safety, regulatory adherence, and quality assurance across all operational areas.
• You are an operational leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution. You can translate business priorities into clear plant direction while remaining deeply engaged with the day-to-day realities of manufacturing. You bring a practical, hands-on leadership style that earns the trust of teams at every level.

 

 

Requirements and Qualifications:

 

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related field
• 7+ years of experience in operations leadership, preferably in food and beverage manufacturing.
• Experience implementing operational systems, safety standards, and process improvements.
• Strong strategic and analytical mindset with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Exceptional leadership and servant leadership skills, with a focus on team development and empowerment.
• Excellent communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Deep understanding of food safety regulations, including SQF and HACCP, quality assurance, and operational compliance.

Preferred

• Experience leading plant startups or scaling operations in a small company environment.
• Experience working closely with cross-functional teams (Planning, R&D, QA/FSQ).
• Spanish language proficiency—ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking team members is a strong plus.

 

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