Plant Manager

note/ this position will be based in Baghdad -iraq/ apply only if you are willing to relocate

Plant Manager – Key Qualifications & Experience

Location: Baghdad, Iraq – Abu Ghraib

Industry: Food Manufacturing / FMCG

Function: Factory Operations & Management

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in one of the following:
• Food Science / Food Technology
• Industrial or Mechanical Engineering
• Agricultural Engineering (relevant to potato processing)
• Preferred : MBA or postgraduate diploma in Operations/Industrial Management

Professional Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in food manufacturing or FMCG, with at least:
• 5 years in a senior leadership/operations role
• 5–7 years specifically in snack food or potato chips production
• Start-up experience : Strongly preferred experience in setting up a new plant or production line from scratch
• Middle East or developing market experience is advantageous, especially with knowledge of local supply chain dynamics and labour management

Technical Knowledge:

• Deep familiarity with:
• Potato washing, slicing, frying, and flavouring machines
• Packaging machinery (vertical form-fill-seal, nitrogen flushing, etc.)
• Production line automation (SCADA, PLCs)
• Knowledge of raw material handling , oil management , and seasoning control
• Understanding of potato varieties suitable for chips production and storage

Quality & Compliance:

• Expertise in:
• Food safety systems: HACCP , ISO 22000 , GMP
• Iraq’s food safety and regulatory standards (e.g., Iraqi Ministry of Health & Environment)
• Experience managing audits , traceability , and product recalls

Operations & Leadership:

• Ability to:
• Set up SOPs and production workflows
• Hire, train, and lead factory staff
• Manage procurement, local vendor relationships, and logistics
• Control costs and improve efficiency (Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, etc.)

Soft Skills:

• Strong leadership and communication, especially for building and motivating a local team
• Fluency in Arabic required; English proficiency strongly preferred
• Capable of working under pressure and solving operational issues quickly
• Culturally aware and capable of navigating the Iraqi business landscape

Additional Experience:

• Involvement in factory construction, layout design, and equipment installation
• Relationships with regional suppliers (potatoes, packaging materials, flavouring agents)
• Knowledge of environmental standards and waste management