Plant Manager for Food Manufacturing (Visayas)

Position Summary

The Plant Manager is responsible for the overall management and performance of the manufacturing plant, ensuring efficient production, consistent product quality, food safety, and compliance with regulatory requirements. The role oversees plant operations, production planning, maintenance, quality assurance, warehousing, and other plant-related functions to achieve operational targets and business objectives.

The position drives continuous improvement, cost optimization, and productivity initiatives while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence. The Plant Manager works closely with Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Research and Development, Finance, Sales, and other business units to ensure reliable product supply and sustainable plant performance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Plant Operations and Production Management

• Oversee end-to-end plant operations to ensure production targets, schedules, and service level requirements are consistently achieved.
• Translate business plans into operational plans, production schedules, and resource requirements.
• Monitor plant performance against key metrics, including production output, yield, efficiency, downtime, waste, and operating costs.
• Ensure optimal utilization of production facilities, equipment, manpower, and other resources.
• Identify and address operational bottlenecks to improve productivity, capacity utilization, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Ensure effective coordination among production, maintenance, quality, and warehouse teams.

2. Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with food safety standards, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with Quality Assurance and Quality Control teams to maintain product quality, consistency, and food safety throughout the manufacturing process.
• Ensure adherence to product specifications, sanitation procedures, allergen management, traceability, and contamination prevention protocols.
• Oversee the implementation of corrective and preventive actions arising from audits, quality incidents, and customer complaints.
• Ensure plant readiness for internal and external audits and regulatory inspections.
• Promote a strong food safety culture and ensure employees understand their responsibility in protecting product integrity and consumer health.

3. Cost Management and Operational Efficiency

• Develop and manage the plant's operating budget, ensuring effective control of manufacturing expenses and capital expenditures.
• Monitor and optimize costs related to raw materials, packaging materials, utilities, labor, maintenance, and production losses.
• Drive initiatives to reduce material wastage, product giveaway, rework, spoilage, and unplanned downtime.
• Analyze production and financial data to identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or food safety.
• Evaluate capital investment requirements and recommend improvements in equipment, technology, and plant infrastructure.
• Establish and monitor cost and productivity improvement targets across plant functions.

4. Maintenance and Engineering Management

• Ensure the effective implementation of preventive and predictive maintenance programs to maximize equipment reliability and availability.
• Oversee the timely repair and maintenance of production machinery, utilities, facilities, and other critical plant assets.
• Coordinate with Engineering and Maintenance teams to minimize equipment breakdowns and production interruptions.
• Ensure compliance with equipment safety standards, plant engineering requirements, and applicable environmental regulations.
• Support plant modernization, equipment upgrades, automation, and capacity expansion projects.

5. Continuous Improvement and Process Excellence

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma, or other relevant operational excellence methodologies.
• Review manufacturing processes to improve throughput, production yield, labor productivity, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Standardize operating procedures, work instructions, and performance monitoring systems.
• Encourage data-driven problem-solving and the use of root cause analysis to address recurring operational issues.
• Benchmark plant performance against industry practices and implement improvements to strengthen competitiveness.

6. Supply Chain and Inventory Coordination

• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Procurement, Planning, and Warehousing teams to ensure the timely availability of raw materials, packaging materials, and production supplies.
• Align production plans with demand forecasts, inventory levels, and customer delivery requirements.
• Ensure proper handling, storage, and inventory control of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods.
• Minimize material obsolescence, expiration, inventory losses, and production disruptions caused by supply constraints.
• Support effective management of product shelf life, stock rotation, and traceability requirements.

7. Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental Management

• Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety standards and applicable environmental regulations.
• Implement policies and programs that prevent workplace accidents, injuries, and unsafe operating conditions.
• Oversee plant safety inspections, risk assessments, emergency preparedness, and incident investigations.
• Ensure proper management of wastewater, waste disposal, emissions, and resource consumption, as applicable.
• Promote employee awareness and accountability for maintaining a safe, clean, and environmentally responsible workplace.

8. People Management and Organizational Development

• Lead, develop, and motivate plant personnel to achieve operational and business targets.
• Establish performance objectives and key performance indicators for plant functions and individual team members.
• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration, discipline, and continuous improvement.
• Identify competency gaps and implement appropriate technical, operational, and leadership development programs.
• Develop succession plans and strengthen the capabilities of supervisors, engineers, and production leaders.
• Ensure adequate staffing, workforce productivity, employee engagement, and compliance with company policies and labor regulations.

9. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Reporting

• Work closely with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders to align plant operations with overall business priorities.
• Provide regular reports on plant performance, production efficiency, quality, costs, safety, and improvement initiatives.
• Present operational issues, risks, and investment requirements with appropriate recommendations.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of major production disruptions, quality incidents, and operational risks.
• Participate in strategic planning for capacity expansion, new product introductions, and manufacturing network improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Food Technology, Food Science, or a related discipline.
• A postgraduate degree in Operations Management, Engineering Management, or Business Administration is an advantage.
• At least 8–12 years of experience in manufacturing operations, preferably within the food and beverage industry.
• At least 5 years of experience in a plant leadership or senior manufacturing management role, with demonstrated responsibility for plant-wide operations.
• Strong knowledge of food manufacturing processes, production planning, quality management, and food safety systems.
• Experience managing multiple plant functions, operational budgets, capital expenditures, and large production teams.
• Demonstrated success in improving plant productivity, reducing manufacturing costs, and implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience with manufacturing performance systems, ERP platforms, and data-driven operational reporting.
• Familiarity with applicable food safety, environmental, occupational health, and safety regulations.