Plant Manager

Crestwood Partners is working on behalf of a food manufacturing company in the Chicago area to appoint an experienced Plant Manager to lead operations across a high-volume production facility.This role will take full responsibility for plant performance across production, safety, quality, maintenance, warehousing, and workforce leadership. The company is looking for a hands-on operational leader with experience in food manufacturing environments and a strong track record driving performance, culture, and accountability on the shop floor.Key responsibilities include:Leading all day-to-day plant operations within a food manufacturing facilityDriving safety, quality, production, and on-time delivery performanceManaging production, maintenance, quality, sanitation, and warehouse teamsEnsuring compliance with food safety and regulatory standards including GMP, HACCP, and FDA requirementsSupporting continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, waste reduction, and operational performanceMonitoring plant KPIs and implementing corrective actions where requiredDeveloping supervisors and department leaders across the facilityManaging labor performance, staffing, and operational costsPartnering with leadership teams to support long-term operational growthIdeal background:Previous Plant Manager or senior operations leadership experience within food manufacturingStrong understanding of food safety, quality, and regulatory complianceExperience leading high-volume manufacturing operationsProven ability improving plant performance and building strong operational teamsStrong leadership presence with a hands-on management styleExperience within fast-paced food, beverage, dairy, meat, bakery, or consumer packaged goods environments is highly desirableLocation: Chicago, ILSalary: $150,000 – $200,000 + bonus