Plant Manager

About Upfield!

We are the largest plant-based company in the world, and we believe in doing what’s right for our people, our customers and the planet.

At Upfield our purpose is clear: we make people healthier and happier with nutritious and delicious, natural, plant-based products that are good for you, our planet; and with packaging that’s free from plastic.  We’ve got iconic brands like Rama, Country Crock, Blue Band, and Flora that people all over the world know and love. We’ve been a trusted category leader since 1871 and yet we feel like we’re only just getting started.

About the role 
Upfield is seeking an experienced and dynamic Factory Manager to lead our manufacturing facility to new heights. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in plant management and leadership in complex technical manufacturing environments. Reporting to the Head of Operations – Canada, this role is pivotal in driving operational excellence, ensuring safety and compliance, and achieving manufacturing targets. The successful candidate will lead a dedicated team of over 120 employees and spearhead growth and expansion initiatives, including the commissioning of new product lines.

Key Responsibilities

Safety, Quality, and Compliance

• Ensure all operations comply with safety, health, and environmental regulations.
• Promote a safety culture, implementing standards and policies to minimize risks and ensure a safe working environment.
• Promote a culture of quality, implementing standard GMPs and other production controls, as well as role modeling a culture of cause analysis and risk assessment to minimize risks and prevent reoccurrence

 Leadership and Collaboration

• Partner with all factory departments, including Operations, Production, Safety, Quality, Maintenance, and Human Resources.
• Lead and inspire a high-performance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
• Partner with local or regional support functions (Engineering and OT, Procurement, R&D, Logistics performance, Finance, Planning) 

Operational Excellence  

• Develop and implement Operational Excellence Plans to achieve and exceed factory-defined targets
  Monitor and ensure optimal efficiency in daily operations through established processes and continuous improvement practices.
• Lead the performance control system process at the factory, including daily, weekly, and monthly performance checkpoints, role modeling analysis, prioritization, and execution mindset.
• Review and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) at adequate frequencies, to drive continuous improvement agenda and anticipate and address future needs.

Employee Engagement and Development

• Create and maintain a positive work environment that promotes high levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Provide coaching and support to direct reports and promising talents, as needed
• Develop succession plans and capability plans across the factory employees, ensuring talent growth and development as well as engagement and performance with the Human Resources team to address personnel issues, participate in investigations, and recommend corrective actions as necessary.
• Foster a sense of loyalty, appreciation, and accomplishment among employees at all levels.
• Demonstrate and promote Upfield’s core values: Performance, Care, and Passion.

Financial Management

• Manage the plant’s budget, conducting regular cost reviews and implementing improvements to discretionary spending.
• Ensure financial targets are met or exceeded through efficient resource allocation and cost management.

Strategic Planning and Growth

• Oversee and manage planned growth and expansion initiatives, including the commissioning of new product lines.
• Develop strategies to enhance production capabilities and drive long-term growth.

Unique Challenges

• Rapidly growing facility with young existence (less than 2 years)
• Fast changing & evolving company

Scope

• Direct Reports: 4-5
• Indirect Employees: 120
• Production Lines: 6
• Volume: 47-50 KTon

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related discipline (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong background in operational management and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational performance
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and drive cost efficiencies.
• Entrepreneurial mindset

What’s next?

If this position sounds interesting, please hit the apply button now! 

We understand your resume might not be up to date and recommend that you apply with what you have or your LinkedIn Profile. Upfield is dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workplace, we understand that you might not meet all the requirements stated in the description, but we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the right candidate for this role or other roles. 

Upfield is an employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and equal opportunities for all. We recruit and hire based on values, qualifications, performance, skills, behaviors, experience, and knowledge. It is the policy of Upfield not to discriminate against any applicant for employment or any employee because of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability or conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered.

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