Job Description

Handary is a shelf-life specialist providing innovative solutions for food safety, quality and shelf-life extension. We are seeking a Plant Manager to lead the safe, compliant, efficient and cost-effective operation of our production site.


Tasks & Responsabilities:

The Plant Manager is responsible for the daily management, coordination and continuous improvement of the factory, ensuring that operations are safe, compliant, efficient, cost-effective and aligned with Handary’s quality, food safety and performance standards.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Manage daily factory operations, including production, packaging, warehouse flow, maintenance coordination, safety, hygiene and personnel management.

  • Execute approved production plans and ensure production orders are completed on time, in full and according to required specifications.

  • Monitor production output, yield, waste, downtime, labor efficiency, cost control and overall operational performance.

  • Ensure proper use of raw materials, packaging materials, equipment, utilities and labor resources.

  • Ensure compliance with ISO 22000, HACCP, hygiene rules, food safety requirements and internal quality procedures.

  • Maintain accurate production records, batch records, cleaning records and traceability documentation.

  • Work closely with the Quality team to prevent deviations, non-conformities, customer complaints and audit failures.

  • Support internal audits, customer audits, certification audits and regulatory inspections.

  • Maintain safe working conditions and ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental requirements.

  • Enforce the correct use of personal protective equipment, safety procedures and hygiene practices.

  • Lead, supervise and develop the factory team, including production, packaging, warehouse and maintenance-related personnel.

  • Define daily priorities, work schedules, task allocation and performance expectations.

  • Build discipline, accountability, teamwork and operational ownership within the factory.

  • Ensure production equipment, utilities and factory infrastructure are maintained in safe, clean and operational condition.

  • Coordinate preventive and corrective maintenance to reduce downtime and improve reliability.

  • Support equipment installation, commissioning, qualification and production scale-up.

  • Improve factory efficiency through planning, standardization, process discipline, waste reduction and resource optimization.

  • Coordinate with Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, Logistics, Sales, Purchasing, Finance and Management to ensure effective production execution.

  • Communicate operational risks, delays, material shortages, equipment issues and quality concerns in a timely manner.

  • Stop, report or escalate any unsafe, non-compliant or high-risk activity.

  • Recommend and implement improvements in productivity, quality, safety, cost control and factory organization.

Requirements

  • Master’s degree in Food Science, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Production Management or a related field.
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in food ingredients, biotechnology, fermentation, pharmaceutical, chemical or other regulated manufacturing operations.
  • Proven experience in managing factory operations, production teams and daily manufacturing activities.
  • Strong knowledge of ISO 22000, GMP, HACCP, hygiene standards, food safety requirements and quality management systems.
  • Good understanding of production planning, material flow, equipment maintenance, cost control and operational performance indicators.
  • Experience with audits, inspections, production documentation, batch records and traceability systems.
  • Strong leadership, team management and people development skills.
  • Practical factory management mindset with strong operational discipline.
  • High sense of responsibility, ownership, accountability and integrity.
  • Strong problem-solving, decision-making and execution ability.
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple operational priorities.
  • Clear communication skills and strong cross-functional coordination ability.
  • Strong attention to quality, food safety, hygiene, safety and regulatory compliance.
  • Ability to build structure, discipline, accountability and continuous improvement within factory operations.
  • Results-oriented mindset with the ability to improve productivity, reduce waste and control operational costs.
  • Hands-on management style with the ability to act quickly, follow up closely and ensure effective implementation.
  • Fluent in English; French is strongly preferred. Other languages are considered an advantage.
 
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