Plant Manager / Dairy

The Plant Manager is responsible for leading end-to-end dairy plant operations, ensuring efficient production, consistent product quality, food safety compliance, cost optimization, and operational excellence across all processing, packaging, maintenance, warehouse, and support functions.

The role drives strategic plant performance, continuous improvement, team capability development, and compliance with dairy industry standards, customer requirements, and regulatory expectations.

Lead overall dairy plant operations across processing, packaging, maintenance, quality, warehouse, and utilities to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production.

Develop and execute strategic production and operational plans aligned with business objectives, volume targets, product quality requirements, and long-term growth plans.

Ensure strict compliance with dairy food safety systems, including HACCP, GMP, sanitation standards, allergen control, traceability, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Oversee maintenance planning, supply chain coordination, inventory control, and production scheduling to ensure uninterrupted operations and optimal asset utilization.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield optimization, waste reduction, energy efficiency, downtime reduction, process reliability, and operational cost control.

Lead, mentor, and develop cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, quality ownership, and high performance.

Represent the plant during audits, customer visits, regulatory inspections, and executive reviews, ensuring strong engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Bachelor s degree or higher in Engineering, Food Technology, Dairy Science, Operations Management, or a related field.

Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in dairy or food manufacturing, including at least 5 years in a senior plant leadership role.

Strong knowledge of dairy processing operations, including pasteurization, fermentation, UHT, filling, packaging, cold chain, cleaning-in-place, and sanitation practices.

In-depth understanding of HACCP, GMP, food safety management systems, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and dairy industry audit requirements.

Proven ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams, manage complex manufacturing environments, and deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, quality, safety, and cost.

Strong analytical, financial, and decision-making skills with experience managing budgets, production KPIs, operational costs, and performance improvement programs.

Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with proficiency in English and the ability to influence at senior management level.