Plant Manager - Berkeley Culinary

We are hiring a Plant Manager to lead and transform our Berkeley, Illinois, 125,000 square foot culinary manufacturing and warehousing facility—our largest operation and a key driver of future growth. This facility is undergoing significant transformation, requiring a leader who brings both strategic vision and disciplined execution. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of scaling operations, building high-performing teams, and driving continuous improvement in complex, high-volume environments. This role demands strong financial and operational acumen, along with the ability to establish structure, accountability, and consistent results. It offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of the facility—enhancing performance, strengthening culture, and delivering operational excellence—while playing a critical role in the Company’s broader growth strategy. This position is best suited for a leader with prior experience driving large-scale growth or transformation within food manufacturing or CPG environments.

 

This role offers a salary range of $150,000 – $200,000 annually, based on skills, experience, and location. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, and paid holidays.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.

Experience

• 8-12+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods.
• Minimum 5 years in plant or senior operations management.
• Experience managing large teams (150+ employees preferred).
• Experience with cold chain operations, including frozen storage and fresh produce warehousing.
• Experience in high-volume manufacturing and packaging environments
• Bilingual Spanish highly preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong knowledge of food safety standards (HACCP, GMP, FDA, USDA).
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team development skills.
• Ability to analyze operational data and drive performance improvements.
• Experience with ERP, WMS, and manufacturing systems.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Technical & Leadership Competencies

• Financial & Analytical Acumen
• Continuous Improvement Mindset
• Project Management
• Advanced Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis
• Talent Development & Leadership
• Communication & Influencing Skills
• Operational Excellence & Standardization
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Partnership

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER DETAILS

Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time exempt position. Typical work hours are Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., with additional hours as needed to meet business demands and production schedules. As an exempt position, it is expected that Team Member will devote whatever time necessary to accomplish the goals and responsibilities. This will often require extended work hours, evening, and/or weekend work.

 

Travel Requirements:

Periodic travel to production facilities, vendor sites, and industry events may be required.

 

Physical Demands of the Job:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work and duties that may be performed. The