Plant Director (Food Manufacturing)

Company overview:

Our client is a leading manufacturer of plant-based food and alternative protein products in Southeast Asia. The company focuses on producing innovative, sustainable, and high-quality plant-based meat alternatives for both domestic and international markets.

Job descriptions:

• Direct and oversee all manufacturing activities to ensure production goals, operational efficiency, and business targets are consistently achieved.
• Formulate production strategies and operational roadmaps while identifying opportunities to enhance manufacturing performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Optimize the use of workforce, equipment, raw materials, and plant capacity to maximize productivity and operational effectiveness.
• Track and evaluate key production metrics, including output, efficiency, yield, downtime, and other critical performance indicators.
• Ensure all manufacturing operations comply with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, including GMP, HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRC, and internal standards.
• Work cross-functionally with Planning, Quality Assurance, Engineering, Warehouse, Procurement, and R&D teams to support seamless production execution and supply continuity.
• Lead initiatives focused on improving productivity, minimizing waste, and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining quality standards.
• Champion operational excellence programs through the implementation of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Oversee production planning and scheduling activities to ensure timely fulfillment of customer and business requirements.
• Analyze production issues, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions to maintain operational stability.
• Control production-related budgets, labor utilization, overtime expenses, and overall manufacturing costs.
• Support new product introductions, pilot runs, commercial scale-up activities, and process qualification efforts.
• Promote a safe working environment by ensuring compliance with occupational health, safety, environmental regulations, and company policies.
• Establish, review, and continuously improve standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and production process controls.
• Build high-performing teams by providing leadership, coaching, succession planning, and development opportunities for production staff and supervisors.
• Prepare and present manufacturing reports, operational reviews, KPI dashboards, and performance analyses to senior leadership for decision-making purposes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Food Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field. Master's degree is an advantage.
• Minimum 10–15 years of experience in manufacturing operations.
• At least 5 years in senior production management or director-level role.
• Strong experience in food manufacturing industry is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food processing, manufacturing systems, and production management.
• Familiar with GMP, HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRC, and food safety standards.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and people management abilities.
• Strong analytical and operational management capabilities.
• Good command of English both written and spoken.