Plant Manager

SUMMARY

In alignment with our company's core values of family and commitment, we are dedicated to providing the Best Cheese in the World to our patrons and customers, while fostering a safe, healthy, and engaging working environment for every team member. The Plant Manager plays a pivotal role in advancing this mission at our Crescent City site. The Plant Manager is responsible for overseeing daily operations at the cheese and byproduct production facility to ensure consistent product quality, operational efficiency, safety, and compliance with food safety standards. This role includes leading and developing staff, maintaining regulatory compliance, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet production goals and business objectives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Team Leadership
  : Inspires and leads a team of cheesemake manufacturing professionals, maintenance technicians, and front-line team members, embedding a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Drives the team's adoption of data-driven decision-making to achieve superior performance.
• Ensures the plant leaders deliver expected results related to motivating, hiring, training, and coaching all team members
• Ensures all team member experience activities are addressed in an effective and timely manner
• Creates a team-oriented, cross-functional atmosphere with emphasis on customer satisfaction, quality, productivity, morale, and open communication to all Team Members.
• Creates and implements a succession plan for key positions utilizing Sartori Success Plans, internal and external training
• Driven Decision Making
  : In conjunction with the Director of Manufacturing and Analytics, applies analytical techniques, KPIs, and dashboards to drive efficient plant operations, yield, and mass balance. Mentors front-line supervision in the effective use of data in managing shift operations.
• Process Optimization
  : Leads cross-functional projects to enhance production yield, maximize throughput, and minimize waste, ensuring these improvements do not compromise product quality. Develop and implement countermeasures to address plant inefficiencies.
• Cross-functional collaboration leadership:
  Serves as the primary point of contact for functional departments (HR, QA, R&D, Maintenance, Engineering, Finance).
• Regulatory and Company Compliance Oversight
  : Ensures the execution of the company's safety, security, environmental, and quality programs. Modifies plant processes to ensure compliance as required.
• Capital Project Leadership
  : Develops and implements forward planning, ensuring alignment with safety and quality standards, and plant capacity and practices exceed forecasted growth.
• Budget Management
  : Prepares and manages plant budget proactively, planning for continuous cost improvement, and implements countermeasures addressing overspend against budget.
• Safe Quality Food (SQF)
  : Maintains compliance with SQF audit requirements and ensures ongoing food safety and quality across operations. The Director of Manufacturing and Analytics position serves as the backup to ensure the integrity of the SQF System.

DIRECT REPORTS

This position directly leads a team of production supervisors and maintenance supervisors and oversees 50+ production team members.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in manufacturing management, engineering, business, and/or related experience is required.
• Minimum of 8 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of driving continuous quality, safety, and productivity improvement, is required.
• Experience within the food, pharmaceutical, or chemical industries is preferred.
• Multilingual (English and Spanish) is preferred.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Alignment with Company Values:
  Demonstrates behaviors and values that reflect the company's culture. Sartori's core values are family, commitment, authenticity, ingenuity, integrity, and humility.
• Analytical Acumen:
  Ability to draw complex conclusions from data using analytical methods.
• Strategic Vision:
  Possesses a strategic mindset with the ability to translate business goals into an actionable framework for manufacturing operations.
• Continuous Improvement:
  Embodies a mindset focused on continuous improvement, leveraging analytics to drive transformational results.
• Leadership and Influence:
  Proven ability to lead and influence teams and stakeholders, driving a data-centric culture across the organization.
• Coaching:
  Effectively coaches and mentors others, providing guidance that enhances performance and facilitates development while building confidence.
• Effective Communication:
  Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex analytical insights to diverse audiences.
• Decision Quality:
  Makes informed, timely decisions using a blend of analytical insights, experience, and sound judgment.
• Learning Agility:
  Shows a high level of intellectual curiosity and an eagerness to learn and adapt to new analytical techniques and industry trends.
• Relationship Building:
  Builds and maintains trusting relationships and alliances both inside and outside the organization, fostering collaboration and innovation.
• Results driven –
  Leverages a collaborative approach to achieve results that promote Sartori's success.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This is an onsite position based in Crescent City, CA; team members must reside within a reasonable commuting distance.
• Occasional travel is required to meet the needs of the business (20%).
• Off-shift work is required as needs arise.
• Valid driver's license is required