Plant Optimization Engineer Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview

The Plant Manager / Director of Plant Operations is responsible for end-to-end leadership of a high-volume food manufacturing facility, driving operational excellence across safety, quality, service, and cost. This role sets the vision and execution strategy for plant performance, while developing a high-performing leadership team and fostering a culture rooted in accountability, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance. The Plant Manager will operate as the senior site leader with full P&L responsibility, partnering cross-functionally with corporate leadership to deliver sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and best-in-class food safety performance.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Plant Leadership & Operational Execution

• Provide full leadership and oversight of all plant functions including Production, Maintenance, Quality/FSQA, Sanitation, Warehousing, and Human Resources.
• Own plant-level performance across key metrics: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale.
• Translate corporate strategy into actionable plant-level initiatives and execution plans.
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly operating rhythms (tier meetings, KPI reviews, performance management).
• Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining product quality, yield, and labor efficiency targets.

Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain full compliance with all food safety and regulatory requirements, including HACCP, GMPs, FSMA, and applicable FDA/USDA standards.
• Partner closely with FSQA leadership to ensure audit readiness for SQF/BRC or equivalent certification standards.
• Champion a food safety-first culture, ensuring accountability at all levels of the organization.
• Lead response and resolution efforts for internal/external audits, customer complaints, and regulatory inspections.
• Ensure sanitation programs meet validated standards and support operational uptime.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Manufacturing Leadership

• Lead the deployment and sustainment of Lean Manufacturing principles across the facility (5S, Kaizen, Standard Work, Visual Management, Root Cause Analysis).
• Drive measurable improvements in OEE, labor productivity, waste reduction, and throughput.
• Establish a structured Continuous Improvement roadmap aligned with plant and corporate objectives.
• Develop internal CI capability by coaching leaders on Lean tools, problem-solving methodologies, and performance management.
• Champion a data-driven culture, utilizing KPIs and operational metrics to identify gaps and drive corrective actions.
• Lead cross-functional Kaizen events and ensure sustainability of improvements through standardization and follow-up.

Financial & Business Leadership

• Own full plant P&L, including operating budgets, cost controls, and financial performance.
• Identify and execute cost-saving initiatives without compromising safety or quality.
• Develop and manage capital expenditure plans, including ROI justification and project execution.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Procurement to optimize inventory, reduce waste, and manage input costs.

Talent Development & Culture

• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team across all functions.
• Coach and mentor managers and supervisors to strengthen leadership capability and bench strength.
• Drive a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Lead succession planning efforts to ensure long-term organizational stability.
• Promote a strong safety culture focused on behavior-based safety and incident prevention.

Strategic Planning & Growth

• Lead long-range planning efforts to support business growth, capacity expansion, and operational scalability.
• Partner with corporate leadership on network optimization, new product launches, and process innovation.
• Ensure the facility is positioned to support future growth through capability building and infrastructure development.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations, Business, or related discipline required (advanced degree preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within food manufacturing, including 5+ years in a Plant Manager or Site Leader capacity.
• Demonstrated experience leading operations in a regulated food environment with strong knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, FSMA, and audit standards (SQF/BRC preferred).
• Proven track record of driving Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement initiatives with measurable impact on operational performance (OEE, cost, waste, productivity).
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing plant-level P&L and capital projects.
• Experience leading multi-functional teams in a high-volume, fast-paced manufacturing environment (bakery or perishable food experience strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change, drive cultural transformation, and implement sustainable process improvements.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

Key Competencies

• Operational Excellence & Execution
• Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement Leadership
• Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
• Financial & Business Acumen
• Talent Development & Organizational Leadership
• Strategic Thinking & Change Management