Manufacturing Plant Manager

Plant Manager Strathmore, AB (some time in Calgary/Leduc during construction) Our client is an independent, Alberta-based innovator and processor of novel, sustainable pulse ingredients for the food, beverage, and baked goods industries. They are building a plant in Strathmore, Alberta, and are looking for a Plant Manager to bring it to life. As Plant Manager, you will lead the commissioning, start-up, and ongoing operation of the facility. Reporting to the President & CEO, you will oversee production, food safety and quality, maintenance, logistics, inventory, automation, and continuous improvement. Your goal is a facility that runs safely, reliably, and cost-effectively, backed by a high-performing, accountable team. Commissioning & Operational Readiness Partner with the Engineering Project Lead to support construction, commissioning, start-up, and ramp-up to steady-state operations Work across Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Food Safety and Quality, and Finance to resolve start-up challenges Develop budgets, staffing plans, schedules, performance targets, procedures, and training Support integration of Emerson DeltaV, Aptean ERP, data lakes, machine learning, and real-time analytics into plant operations Operations Management Lead operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, yield, and inventory goals Deliver production schedules while ensuring product consistency, traceability, and on-time delivery Optimize yield, throughput, energy efficiency, equipment reliability, and operating costs Set and manage KPIs, and lead Lean Manufacturing, root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives Food Safety, Quality & Compliance Lead investigations into food safety, quality, and operational incidents, and implement corrective and preventive actions Build a safety-first culture and ensure safe-work procedures and training are consistently applied Lead incident investigations and monitor safety and environmental performance Attract, lead, and develop managers, supervisors, team leads, and production staff Maintain a visible presence on the plant floor to support employees and resolve issues Bachelor's degree in mechanical, process, chemical, industrial, or a related engineering discipline; 5-10 years of progressive manufacturing or plant operations experience, including leading managers, supervisors, and cross-functional teams Experience managing operating budgets, workforce plans, production schedules, and cost-reduction initiatives Strong knowledge of ERP, automation, and process-control systems Experience using operational data and analytics to improve yield, throughput, energy efficiency, reliability, and quality Strong analytical, troubleshooting, decision-making, communication, and stakeholder-management skills Emotional intelligence, with the ability to build trust, develop talent, navigate difficult conversations, and inspire accountability The successful candidate will lead a new, technology-enabled facility and shape operational excellence within a high-growth private company. They offer a total rewards package that includes a competitive base salary, annual bonus incentive, group health benefits, and the opportunity to participate in long-term incentive programs. #