Meat Processing Plant Manager Jobs in Crete, IL (NOW HIRING)

We are seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead the overall operations of a high-volume food manufacturing facility. This position is responsible for plant production, employee safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, maintenance, sanitation, and operational performance.

The Plant Manager will ensure consistent, high-quality production while maintaining a safe, efficient, and timely manufacturing operation. This leader will be responsible for controlling costs, improving profitability, building a strong management team, and supporting the continued growth and stability of the organization.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, people-focused leader with experience managing large manufacturing teams, improving plant performance, and implementing processes that increase efficiency, capacity, quality, and output.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for plant operations, including production, safety, quality, maintenance, sanitation, purchasing, and shipping.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure the health and safety of all employees.
• Enforce company safety policies and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Establish plant production goals and key performance indicators related to yield, labor efficiency, product giveaway, floor loss, quality, and overall plant performance.
• Monitor production results and implement corrective actions when performance goals are not achieved.
• Ensure products are manufactured safely, efficiently, on schedule, and according to established quality standards.
• Develop and maintain quality control, food safety, sanitation, and operational standards.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, USDA, FSIS, EPA, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Serve as the primary plant liaison with USDA inspectors and other regulatory representatives.
• Partner with department leaders to coordinate production schedules, purchasing, staffing, inventory, and shipping activities.
• Develop and implement facility policies, procedures, and operational best practices.
• Lead budgeting, capital planning, capacity planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support the implementation of new production processes and equipment that improve efficiency, capacity, quality, and product innovation.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, minimize waste, improve yields, and maximize plant profitability.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and retain a skilled and motivated leadership team and workforce.
• Create employee development and succession plans that prepare team members for increased responsibility.
• Lead by example and encourage collaboration, accountability, and employee involvement in the decision-making process.
• Manage multiple priorities and adjust plans as operational needs change.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, operations management, engineering, food science, manufacturing, or a related field.
• At least seven years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Experience leading a manufacturing facility or large production operation.
• Experience managing a workforce of at least 200 employees.
• Demonstrated success building, developing, and leading high-performing teams.
• Experience with budgeting, capital planning, capacity planning, and continuous improvement.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to manage multiple departments, competing priorities, and changing production demands.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership experience within the food manufacturing, meat processing, prepared foods, or consumer packaged goods industry.
• Experience working in a USDA- or FSIS-regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience implementing Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, waste reduction, or operational excellence programs.
• Experience launching new products, production lines, equipment, or manufacturing processes.

Labor Solutions, LLC is a leader in the professional, temporary, and direct hire industry throughout the Midwest area. Our clients range from individual entrepreneurs to large corporations, and while we are big enough to serve Fortune 100 companies, we are small enough to stay nimble in an always-changing market.

Thank you!