Plant Manager

Position Snapshot

Title: Plant Manager

Location: Jeddah, KSA

Position Type: Full Time

Reporting To: Vice President- Manufacturing

Overview:

The Plant Manager will lead end-to-end operations of a high-volume protein manufacturing facility, driving safety, quality, cost efficiency, and productivity while fostering a culture of accountability and high performance across diverse teams. This is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategic planning with day-to-day operational execution and requires close collaboration with R&D, supply chain, and cross-functional teams to deliver sustainable growth, innovation, and full compliance.

How Will You Make An Impact?

A. Leadership & Culture

• Reset leadership engagement and drive cultural transformation at the site.
• Mobilize frontline workforce energy and accountability.
• Strengthen core foundations in Safety, Quality, and Compliance culture.
• Develop and scale up the next line of site leaders.

B. Capabilities

• Assess organizational structure, align resources, and drive corrective action plans (including hiring, firing, and developing talent).
• Build and execute a structured training agenda.
• Develop and run cross-functional workshops.
• Partner with HR to create a capability pipeline: internship programs, fresh graduate intake, university outreach, and mentorship.
• Lead and coach cross-functional operations teams.
• Ensure robust manpower planning, training, and performance management.

C. Operations Excellence

• Drive cost-per-ton reduction through waste minimization, labor productivity, and efficiency initiatives.
• Own and manage the plant budget including MOH (fixed and variable costs) and capex.
• Instill and maintain a zero-incident safety culture.
• Deliver production targets consistently (volume, yield, OEE).
• Optimize plant scheduling, shift management, and resource utilization.
• Enforce S&OP discipline across all operations.
• Troubleshoot and resolve product quality challenges while maintaining strict QA standards.
• Oversee rework and waste management processes.
• Fully leverage plant assets (“sweat the asset”).
• Define and implement Lean and Continuous Improvement roadmap.
• Lead capacity planning and sustainability initiatives.
• Drive capex management and digitalization agenda.
• Maintain full SFDA compliance and build strong regulatory relationships.

D. Innovation & R&D Support

• Develop new product capabilities in line with business needs.
• Ensure all products meet regulatory compliance standards.
• Partner with procurement to mitigate raw material price fluctuations.
• Support initiatives to improve Gross Profit (GP) through innovation and efficiency.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Food Technology, or a related field.

Experience

• 12-15 years of relevant manufacturing experience.

Competencies

• Strong protein industry background with QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) exposure.
• End-to-end knowledge of manufacturing, supply chain, and CI (Continuous Improvement) practices.
• A hands-on leader, result-oriented, with the ability to balance strategic and operational priorities.
• High level of organizational agility and ability to work cross-functionally.
• Strong anticipation, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent leadership skills, high accountability, and resilience under pressure.
• Strong proficiency in ERP systems (Oracle preferred) and data-driven decision making.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management abilities.