The Plant Production Manager will lead the development and optimization of the company's manufacturing capabilities for its pet food/animal feed manufacturing business.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Development & Strategy
Lead the development and implementation of manufacturing capabilities to support business growth and future capacity requirements.
Develop and improve manufacturing processes, systems, standards, and operating practices.
Identify opportunities to improve productivity, yield, quality, cost, capacity, and equipment reliability.
Provide technical and operational leadership in the scale-up and development of manufacturing operations.
Establish manufacturing KPIs and performance standards aligned with business objectives.
Plant, Process & Equipment Development
Lead the planning and development of manufacturing facilities, production lines, equipment, utilities, and related infrastructure.
Evaluate manufacturing technologies, equipment specifications, process requirements, and plant layouts.
Provide technical direction during equipment installation, commissioning, trial production, and production ramp-up.
Ensure manufacturing facilities and equipment meet required safety, quality, regulatory, and operational standards.
Work closely with Engineering and Maintenance teams to ensure equipment reliability, maintainability, and operational efficiency.
Capital Projects & Implementation
Lead manufacturing development and capital expenditure projects from concept through commissioning and operational handover.
Develop project scope, timelines, budgets, resource requirements, and execution plans.
Manage and coordinate contractors, equipment suppliers, consultants, and other external partners.
Monitor project progress, cost, quality, and schedule to ensure successful delivery.
Identify and mitigate technical, commercial, and operational risks throughout project execution.
Drive continuous improvement and manufacturing excellence initiatives.
Analyze manufacturing performance and identify opportunities for process and equipment optimization.
Improve production throughput, equipment utilization, yield, quality, and overall operating efficiency.
Promote Lean Manufacturing, root-cause problem solving, preventive maintenance, and reliability improvement practices.
Support the implementation of systems and processes that enable sustainable manufacturing performance.
Lead, coach, and develop manufacturing, engineering, production, and technical teams.
Provide technical guidance and support to plant and production leadership.
Collaborate with Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, HR, and other functions to deliver manufacturing objectives.
Build strong relationships with equipment suppliers, contractors, consultants, and other external partners.
Provide regular updates and recommendations to senior management on manufacturing development, projects, risks, and opportunities.

Qualifications

Education & Professional License
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
At least 8–10 years of relevant experience in manufacturing, plant operations, engineering, production, or manufacturing development.
Experience in animal feed mills, pet food manufacturing, food processing, or other allied process industries is highly preferred.
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and complex manufacturing initiatives.