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Hawaiian Host Group

Hawaiian Host Group

Macadamia nut confections manufacturer and distributor

Agricultural Operations / Plant Manager

Full-Time
$115k - $140k/yr
Expert
Bachelor's
Captain Cook, HI, USA
In Person

About the job

Requirements
  • A Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • At least ten years of experience in production, manufacturing, and operations management within the food processing, manufacturing, or agricultural industries.
  • Five to seven years of general management experience, preferably in a plant or production manufacturing environment.
  • Understanding of product quality standards, regulatory compliance, preventive maintenance programs, and continuous improvement.
  • A valid driver's license and access to a vehicle.
  • Strong managerial skills encompassing effective communication, delegation, and motivation.
  • Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
  • Ability to work with and relate to employees at all levels of the organization.
  • Basic knowledge of engineering and technical principles.
  • Proficiency in equipment and machinery repair and maintenance, including hand trucks, pallet jacks, and various power tools.
  • Verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Competency in computer systems and software applications.
Responsibilities
  • Oversee all stages of the macadamia nut processing flow, including receiving, drying, cracking, optical sorting, pasteurizing, roasting, manual sorting, and sizing.
  • Lead Production, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehousing, and Scheduling functions and managers at the site while working with the Orchard Manager and FSQA Manager and reporting to the site General Manager.
  • Direct and manage plant activities and goals, including safety and quality programs, FDA and FSMA compliance, HACCP, regulatory compliance, personnel development, training, production planning, scheduling, cost control, inventory control, FIFO management, and facilities and equipment repair and maintenance.
  • Promote a safe, positive, and inclusive workplace culture consistent with company values.
  • Run the Maintenance Department using a CMMS and best practices to drive reliable preventive maintenance and summer and weekend overhaul work.
  • Drive continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing, line bottleneck constraint analysis, daily metrics, employee engagement, and project management for process change deployment.
  • Align plans and processes with strategic initiatives to reduce processing costs through optimal resource utilization and collaborate with other departments to achieve business goals.
  • Coordinate plant operations with department managers to achieve processing objectives efficiently and within budget.
  • Develop, implement, and monitor the plant budget while increasing production and controlling spending.
  • Implement cost-effective controls over capital expenditures, operating expenditures, manpower, wages, and salaries.
  • Enhance workforce utilization through optimized operations and processes, ensuring adequate staffing, retention, motivation, training, and equipment.
  • Maintain a strong floor presence for up to 50% of the time while engaging with employees and monitoring plant performance and production and quality standards.
  • Maintain plant facilities and equipment for smooth and safe operations, replacing or adjusting equipment as needed.
  • Improve safety records by addressing physical safety issues and fostering positive safety attitudes.
  • Lead and manage a diverse team, identify development opportunities, and create individual development plans.
  • Hire, lead, motivate, and retain the team to achieve goals and exceed customer expectations.
  • Lead and develop supervisors, leads, maintenance technicians, operators, and staff across a two-shift operation.
  • Prepare monthly business reports, including productivity metrics and budget costs, in partnership with finance and accounting.
  • Fulfill additional assigned duties or projects to meet organizational needs.
Desired Qualifications
  • Agricultural plant processing management experience, preferably macadamia nut processing.
  • Experience with optical sorter technology.
  • Experience optimizing manual sorting.
  • Experience with labor scheduling and efficiency.
  • Strong maintenance and engineering experience driving low downtime, high efficiency, and high yield.
  • Experience working in a plant or production manufacturing environment as a general manager.

About the company

Hawaiian Host Group makes macadamia nut and chocolate confections through a family of brands with its own orchards and manufacturing plants in Hawaii, selling products in 23+ countries. Its portfolio includes Hawaiian Host’s chocolate-dipped macadamias, Mauna Loa roasted and flavored macadamias and macadamia milk ice cream, KOHO artisanal chocolates, and brands like MacFarms and Kapua Orchards. It differentiates itself through vertical integration from orchards to finished confections, a broad multi-brand lineup, and a focus on Hawaii-sourced ingredients and omiyage gifts. Its goal is to grow a worldwide platform for macadamia-based confections while sustaining family heritage and community initiatives.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Honolulu, Hawaii

Founded

1927

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • September 2025 Ube White Chocolate became a Sweets & Snacks Most Innovative finalist.
  • May 2025 Sweets & Snacks Expo drew strong buyer interest for Choco Mango and Caramacs.
  • April 2026 leadership changes and 2026 hiring activity suggest renewed operational focus.

What critics are saying

  • April 2026 CEO shift, replacing Ed Schultz with Michael Fox, signals execution reset.
  • Revelio shows headcount fell from 313 in 2024 to 289 by March 2026.
  • Kirkland, Ferrero, and private-label snacks compress margins and shelf space before 2027.

What makes Hawaiian Host Group unique

  • Hawaiian Host Group remains Hawaii's largest branded macadamia company, pairing orchard-to-chocolate integration.
  • Hawaiian Host and Mauna Loa give HHG premium gifting and everyday-snacking channels.
  • September 2025 Ube White Chocolate and June 2025 Maui Caramacs refresh the portfolio.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Leave

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

Employee Discounts