Plant Director

SUMMARY

Seeking a strong operational leader to serve as Plant Director overseeing two bakery operations in the Bradenton, Florida area. This role is responsible for elevating operational discipline, strengthening leadership capability, and building scalable systems that support consistent execution in a private label manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate brings food manufacturing experience, strong private label or branded retail, and a proven ability to professionalize operations while strengthening culture.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Both bakeries operate safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with food safety and regulatory standards
• A strong culture of ownership, teamwork, and continuous improvement is visible on the floor
• Food safety and quality systems are robust, audit‑ready, and consistently executed
• Corrective actions address root cause and eliminate repeat issues
• Service levels for private label customers are consistently met or exceeded
• Operational metrics (safety, quality, labor efficiency, downtime, waste) trend positively and sustainably
• Leadership teams at each site are aligned, developed, and accountable

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide full operational and P&L leadership for two bakery operations in the Bradenton, FL area
• Drive a “safety first, safety always” culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA, company policies, and safe work practices.
• Strengthen operational discipline by implementing clear performance standards, structured problem‑solving, and consistent follow‑up.
• Champion food safety and quality in partnership with FSQA leadership, ensuring compliance with BRCGS, FDA, and customer requirements.
• Lead root cause analysis, corrective action development, and systemic process improvements to prevent recurrence of quality issues.
• Lead and develop site leadership teams, including Production, Maintenance, Quality, Warehouse, and HR partners.
• Increase clarity of expectations and accountability at all levels of the organization.
• Establish and monitor KPIs tied to safety, service, quality, cost, and reliability; implement action plans to address performance gaps.
• Maintain strong daily floor presence, engaging supervisors and frontline employees to reinforce standards and drive execution.
• Drive service excellence in a private label environment where responsiveness and consistency are critical.
• Improve labor efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen reliability through structured continuous improvement efforts.
• Ensure preventive maintenance systems support equipment reliability and food safety requirements.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Supply Chain, Commercial, and Finance teams to align production performance with customer commitments and financial goals.
• Lead capital planning and operational investment decisions that support scalability.
• Serve as a visible champion of Engelman’s core values of Quality, Dependability, and Teamwork.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned within the scope of this role.

KPIs THIS ROLE OWNS (Weekly / Monthly)

• Safety performance indicators (TRIR)
• On‑time shipment (OTIF)
• Waste / scrap % and associated cost
• Customer complaints and corrective action closures
• Labor and equipment efficiency metrics

BASIC AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION and OR EXPERIENCE)

Required

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing operations.
• At least 3 years of plant leadership experience with full operational accountability.
• Demonstrated experience strengthening operational systems and improving execution discipline.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, GMPs, sanitation, and audit readiness.
• Experience managing operational budgets and driving financial performance.
• Proven experience developing frontline leaders and building accountability systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, Business, or related field; equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will be considered.
• Experience in baking operations.
• Experience in private label manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading smaller or multi‑site operations with lean organizational structures.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (JOB SKILLS, ABILITIES, KNOWLEDGE)

• Ability to raise standards while maintaining team engagement and trust.
• High emotional intelligence paired with strong performance expectations.
• Structured problem‑solving and data‑driven decision‑making capabilities.
• Ability to move with urgency while maintaining operational stability.
• Strong leadership presence with consistent follow‑through.
• Clear, confident communicator across all organizational levels.
• Flexibility to adjust schedule as needed to support plant performance.

Compensation & Benefits

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan.