Plant Manager (EU202)

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 &
Responsibilities:
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.