New

Plant Director

Vaco
$160,000.00 - $175,000.00 / yr
401(k), retirement plan
United States, Florida, Bradenton
Apr 24, 2026
SUMMARY Seeking a strong operational leader to serve as Plant Director overseeing two bakery operations in the Bradenton, Florida area. This role is responsible for elevating operational discipline, strengthening leadership capability, and building scalable systems that support consistent execution in a private label manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate brings food manufacturing experience, strong private label or branded retail, and a proven ability to professionalize operations while strengthening culture. What Success Looks Like in This Role: Both bakeries operate safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with food safety and regulatory standards A strong culture of ownership, teamwork, and continuous improvement is visible on the floor Food safety and quality systems are robust, audit-ready, and consistently executed Corrective actions address root cause and eliminate repeat issues Service levels for private label customers are consistently met or exceeded Operational metrics (safety, quality, labor efficiency, downtime, waste) trend positively and sustainably Leadership teams at each site are aligned, developed, and accountable ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Provide full operational and P&L leadership for two bakery operations in the Bradenton, FL area Drive a "safety first, safety always" culture by ensuring compliance with OSHA, company policies, and safe work practices. Strengthen operational discipline by implementing clear performance standards, structured problem-solving, and consistent follow-up. Champion food safety and quality in partnership with FSQA leadership, ensuring compliance with BRCGS, FDA, and customer requirements. Lead root cause analysis, corrective action development, and systemic process improvements to prevent recurrence of quality issues. Lead and develop site leadership teams, including Production, Maintenance, Quality, Warehouse, and HR partners. Increase clarity of expectations and accountability at all levels of the organization. Establish and monitor KPIs tied to safety, service, quality, cost, and reliability; implement action plans to address performance gaps. Maintain strong daily floor presence, engaging supervisors and frontline employees to reinforce standards and drive execution. Drive service excellence in a private label environment where responsiveness and consistency are critical. Improve labor efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen reliability through structured continuous improvement efforts. Ensure preventive maintenance systems support equipment reliability and food safety requirements. Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Commercial, and Finance teams to align production performance with customer commitments and financial goals. Lead capital planning and operational investment decisions that support scalability. Serve as a visible champion of Engelman's core values of Quality, Dependability, and Teamwork. Perform other duties as required or assigned within the scope of this role. KPIs THIS ROLE OWNS (Weekly / Monthly) Safety performance indicators (TRIR) On-time shipment (OTIF) Waste / scrap % and associated cost Customer complaints and corrective action closures Labor and equipment efficiency metrics BASIC AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE) Required Minimum of 7 years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing operations. At least 3 years of plant leadership experience with full operational accountability. Demonstrated experience strengthening operational systems and improving execution discipline. Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, GMPs, sanitation, and audit readiness. Experience managing operational budgets and driving financial performance. Proven experience developing frontline leaders and building accountability systems. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. Preferred Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, Business, or related field; equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will be considered. Experience in baking operations. Experience in private label manufacturing environments. Experience leading smaller or multi-site operations with lean organizational structures. Bilingual in English and Spanish. ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS (JOB SKILLS, ABILITIES, KNOWLEDGE) Ability to raise standards while maintaining team engagement and trust. High emotional intelligence paired with strong performance expectations. Structured problem-solving and data-driven decision-making capabilities. Ability to move with urgency while maintaining operational stability. Strong leadership presence with consistent follow-through. Clear, confident communicator across all organizational levels. Flexibility to adjust schedule as needed to support plant performance Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products. Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal. By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal. Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here. Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here. Residents of all other states may access our policies here. Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here. Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here. Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual's skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.