Job Description
Plant Manager – Aseptic Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Summary
The Plant Manager leads all operations at an aseptic food manufacturing facility producing coffees, teas, juices, plant-based, acidified dairy, and nutritional products. This role is responsible for safe, compliant, high-quality, and cost-effective production while driving continuous improvement, operational excellence, and a strong performance culture.
Key Responsibilities
Lead all plant operations, ensuring safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and efficiency
Provide technical leadership for UHT/HTST processing, aseptic filling, CIP/SIP, and contamination control
Ensure compliance with FDA, FSMA, FSSC 22000, HACCP, and GMP requirements
Serve as site lead for regulatory inspections, audits, and customer visits
Drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, yield, OEE, and cost
Lead and develop cross-functional teams across production, quality, engineering, maintenance, supply chain, and EHS
Oversee process validation, aseptic qualifications, shelf-life studies, and new product launches
Manage allergen control programs in a multi-product aseptic environment
Own plant P&L, budgets, operating costs, and capital planning
Lead capital projects, equipment upgrades, and technology implementations
Champion a strong safety, food safety, and accountability-driven culture
Partner with R&D, Quality, and Commercial teams to support growth initiatives
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or Supply Chain preferred
12–15 years of food and beverage manufacturing experience with deep aseptic processing expertise
5–7 years of senior plant or operations leadership experience
Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and high-speed manufacturing
Hands-on experience with coffees/teas, juice, plant-based, acidified dairy, or nutritional products
Preferred Qualifications
Expertise in UHT, aseptic filling, hygienic design, and allergen control
Experience with nutritional formulations
Lean, Six Sigma, or TPM certification
Proven change leadership, strong communication skills, and business acumen
