Plant Manager at Open People Network (OPN)

Company: Farm Girl

About Farm Girl

Farm Girl is a proudly Canadian food and beverage company focused on better-for-you cereal and granola products with scaled retail distribution. As production demand continues to grow, we are building a strong operational foundation with a focus on efficiency, safety, and team performance across our manufacturing facility.

Position Overview

The Plant Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of plant operations, with a strong focus on supporting and enabling Production Supervisors to execute daily manufacturing activities effectively. This role requires a hands-on leader who is highly visible on the production floor and capable of driving performance in a fast-paced, regulated food manufacturing environment.

The Plant Manager ensures operational excellence, workforce productivity, and compliance with all applicable Canadian and Ontario regulations, while building a strong culture of accountability and safety.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Leadership & Execution

• Oversee all day-to-day plant operations, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and delivery timelines are consistently met
• Translate production plans into executable schedules through close coordination with Production Supervisors
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including OEE, labour efficiency, downtime, waste, and throughput
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize productivity and reduce costs
• Own the plant operating budget, including labour and yield variances, scrap/waste targets, and inputs to standard cost setting

Leadership & Development of Production Supervisors

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Production Supervisors responsible for frontline execution
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards for supervisory staff
• Provide ongoing coaching in people management, problem-solving, and shift leadership
• Ensure consistent communication and alignment across shifts

Health, Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and all applicable regulations
• Partner closely with the HR Manager (or safety lead) and support the Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC)
• Reinforce a strong safety culture by holding supervisors accountable for safe work practices
• Ensure timely resolution of hazards, incidents, and corrective actions on the production floor

Quality & Food Safety

• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, and all food safety standards
• Partner with QA to maintain product quality, consistency, and traceability
• Support audits, inspections, and continuous improvement of quality systems
• Lead allergen management programs (including nut, gluten, and oat-handling controls) across shared production lines
• Maintain readiness for SQF (or BRC) certification audits in support of retail customer requirements

Workforce & Labour Management

• Oversee labour planning, staffing levels, and shift structures in alignment with production needs
• Ensure compliance with the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA) regarding hours of work, overtime, and breaks
• Support supervisors in managing attendance, performance, and employee relations in collaboration with HR
• Foster a respectful, inclusive, and high-performance workplace culture

Inventory, Maintenance & Supply Chain Coordination

• Collaborate with procurement, planning, and logistics to ensure material availability and production continuity
• Oversee equipment performance and coordinate preventive maintenance with maintenance teams
• Minimize downtime and production disruptions through proactive planning

Continuous Improvement & Scaling

• Identify and implement process improvements, including lean manufacturing initiatives
• Support new product launches and scale-up of production lines
• Build systems and processes that enable sustainable growth

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, preferably in food or CPG environments
• 3+ years in a leadership role managing supervisors or frontline leaders
• Strong knowledge of Canadian manufacturing regulations, including OHSA and ESA
• Proven experience managing production in a shift-based, fast-paced environment
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma is an asset)
• Working knowledge of Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) obligations under Ontario law

Preferred

• Experience in food or beverage manufacturing with GMP/HACCP requirements
• Strong background in scaling operations in a growing company

Key Competencies

• Highly visible, floor-oriented leadership style
• Strong coaching and team development skills (especially for supervisors)
• Operational discipline and data-driven decision-making
• Ability to balance speed, quality, and safety
• Proactive and solutions-oriented mindset

Why Join Farm Girl?

• Lead manufacturing for a proudly Canadian better-for-you cereal and granola brand with national retail presence and a growing US footprint (Costco Canada, Sprouts US)
• Take direct ownership of plant performance, with autonomy and visibility to the executive team
• Build the operating systems that will carry Farm Girl through its next phase of growth, rather than maintaining legacy ones
• Work in a category where craft, quality, and food safety meaningfully differentiate the product

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