Plant Manager

ABOUT SOUFFLET MALTSoufflet Malt is a global leader in malting, operating across approximately 41 plants in 20 countries with an annual production capacity of about 3.7 million tonnes of malt. With deep expertise in agronomy, industrial processing and logistics, the company transforms barley and other cereal grains into a wide variety of high-quality malts - standard, roasted, organic - for brewers, distillers and industrial users. At the heart of its purpose is the belief that "malt is a catalyst": when crafted with passion and talent, it boosts the value of today's products and inspires innovation for tomorrow. Building on this global presence, Montreal forms part of the Americas Region, which comprises 600 employees, 5 manufacturing facilities, 18 distribution centers, and a regional headquarters located in Portland, Oregon.POSITION OVERVIEWThe Plant Manager provides overall leadership and direction for the facility, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations that align with company goals and core values-Passion for Innovation, Cultivate Collaboration, Leverage Difference, and Be Accountable. This role is accountable for production, maintenance, quality, safety, and people development while driving operational excellence and cultural transformation. The Plant Manager serves as the primary business leader for the site, responsible for delivering strong financial results and building a high-performance team.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESLeadership & StrategyProvide strategic direction and oversight for all plant functions, including production, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and EHSChampion a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.Foster collaboration across all departments, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and customer expectationsDrive cultural transformation that aligns with company values and long-term growth goalsOperational ExcellenceEnsure production schedules are met with optimal use of resources, equipment, and personnelOversee maintenance, engineering, and process improvement activities to maximize uptime and reliabilityImplement Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and other CI methodologies to improve performanceDevelop, monitor, and achieve KPIs across safety, quality, delivery, and costFinancial ManagementOwn the plant P&L and deliver strong financial performancePrepare and manage operating budgets, capital expenditures, and cost-control initiativesPartner with finance to ensure transparency and accountability in cost trackingPeople LeadershipRecruit, develop, and retain top talent, building a high-performance leadership teamProvide coaching, mentoring, and succession planning for key rolesPromote diversity, equity, and inclusion by leveraging differences to strengthen team performanceDrive employee engagement, recognition, and accountabilitySafety & ComplianceEnsure compliance with OSHA, EPA, FDA (if applicable), and other federal/state/local regulationsLead initiatives that reduce risk and improve safety performancePromote a zero-incident culture with proactive training and employee involvementQUALIFICATIONSBachelor's degree in a science or engineering-related discipline7-10 years of progressive experience in malting, with a comprehensive understanding of the malting supply chainProven experience managing plant operations within the food or food-related industry.Bilingual (French and English)Experience operating in a unionized environment, with demonstrated leadership and conflict resolution skillsStrong background in budgeting, cost control, and the principles of managerial financeEffective leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire, influence, and motivate teams to achieve shared goalsStrong administrative and operational management capabilities, with a focus on performance, accountability, and continuous improvementExcellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to build trust and respect across diverse professional, cultural, and gender environmentsStrategic thinker with the ability to assess the business environment and drive operational transformation aligned with organizational goalsSound understanding of technical, engineering, regulatory, and sales disciplines relevant to plant operationsProven skills in problem solving, root cause analysis, conflict resolution, and negotiationCommitment to coaching and developing others, fostering a growth mindset and succession planningDemonstrated ability to set challenging goals, measure performance, and provide meaningful feedbackWillingness and ability to travel infrequently, as requiredGraduate Diploma or Master of Business Administration (MBA) preferredIndustry-recognized malting certification is preferred. While experience in the malting industry is an asset, we also welcome candidates with strong industrial management experienceWe thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.