Plant Manager

Rm Palmer Company - Reading, PA

Full-time - Mid Level

Reading, PA

501-1,000 employees

Food Manufacturing

About the position

The Plant Manager at R.M. Palmer Company leads a 24/7 chocolate manufacturing facility, focusing on driving performance in safety, quality, production, service, and cost. This role champions continuous improvement initiatives to achieve operational excellence and financial goals while overseeing a diverse range of chocolate products and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Foster a strong safety culture and prioritize safety in all operations.
• Oversee daily operations and ensure targets for Safety, Quality, Production, Service, and Cost are met.
• Implement lean manufacturing practices and utilize root cause analysis to solve production challenges.
• Partner with the Maintenance and Reliability team to establish and enhance proactive maintenance strategies.
• Build a high-performing team, assess talent, and develop employees for leadership roles.
• Identify improvement opportunities by analyzing data and monitoring performance against KPIs such as safety, quality, waste, and productivity.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement within the facility.
• Develop and manage the operating budget, monitor expenses, and implement cost-saving initiatives.
• Collaborate on capital projects and oversee new line installations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business Management, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• 5+ years of food manufacturing experience.
• Proven management or supervisory experience in food manufacturing.
• Experience with budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety standards and regulatory requirements (GMP, FDA, USDA, HACCP).
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Benefits

• Safety education and training in GMP Regulations, Food Safety Guidelines, Food Quality Programs, Employee Safety, and SQF requirements.