Plant Production Manager

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.