New Haven
We are partnering with a well-established dairy manufacturer, backed by a global organization, to identify a Plant Manager to lead a single-site operation in Connecticut. This is a high-impact leadership role reporting directly to the President, with full responsibility for plant performance and a critical voice in the company’s continued growth, innovation, and operational investment. The facility operates with multiple production lines (automated and manual) and a team of approximately 100 employees. This role requires a hands-on, floor-oriented leader with deep expertise in cheese production — someone who understands the process end-to-end and is comfortable stepping in to support operations when needed. Key Responsibilities • Lead all aspects of plant operations, including production, maintenance, and warehousing, • Drive safety, quality, throughput, and yield performance across multiple production lines, • Act as a player-coach, actively engaging on the floor and supporting teams in real time, • Oversee and develop a team of ~100 employees across production and related functions, • Partner cross-functionally to ensure consistent product quality and food safety standards, • Support and help execute capital investment projects (CAPEX) tied to equipment and process improvements, • Monitor and manage material usage, labor, and operational costs to maintain strong margins, • Proven leadership experience in cheese manufacturing, • Deep understanding of cheese-making processes (cultures, yield, quality, and production flow), • Experience managing multi-line production environments with both automated and manual processes, • Hands-on leadership style — comfortable being on the floor and in the operation daily, • Strong operational and financial acumen, including cost control and margin management, • Experience supporting or leading equipment upgrades and capital projects, • Reports directly to the President with significant visibility and influence, • Backed by a large global organization with ongoing investment in the business, • Opportunity to play a key role in scaling operations and supporting brand growth, • Competitive base salary + bonus, • Medical, Dental, Vision, • 401(k), • Paid Time Off
