Plant Manager

Role Overview   The Plant Manager is accountable for the overall performance of the Shelburne Water facility, leading all aspects of operations including production, maintenance, quality, and warehouse. This role requires a hands-on, operationally strong leader with deep experience in high-speed bottling or food and beverage manufacturing environments.   As a key leader within Ice River Sustainable Solutions, the Plant Manager will drive operational excellence, ensure equipment reliability, and build a high-performing team culture focused on safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. A strong maintenance and technical foundation is critical to success in this role, enabling proactive decision-making, effective troubleshooting, and long-term reliability planning.     Key Responsibilities   Plant Leadership & Operations Lead all day-to-day plant operations to achieve safety, production, quality, and cost targets Own and deliver on all key performance indicators including OEE, labour efficiency, yield, downtime, and service levels Ensure effective production planning, line loading, and resource allocation Maintain strong floor presence to drive engagement, accountability, and operational discipline   Maintenance & Reliability Provide direct oversight of maintenance strategy and execution to maximize uptime and equipment performance Ensure robust preventive and predictive maintenance programs are in place and adhered to Lead root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions for recurring downtime issues Partner closely with maintenance leadership to build technical capability across the team Leverage hands-on technical knowledge to support troubleshooting and decision-making in a bottling environment   Quality & Regulatory Compliance Ensure full compliance with all quality standards, including HACCP, SQF, and internal quality systems Maintain strong knowledge of regulatory requirements including CFIA, Health & Safety, and environmental standards Lead audit readiness and execution, ensuring all regulatory and customer expectations are consistently met   Warehouse & Supply Chain Coordination Oversee inventory management, material flow, and warehouse operations to support production and customer delivery Collaborate with supply chain, logistics, and customer service teams to ensure service targets are achieved Optimize inventory levels and minimize waste or disruption   People Leadership & Culture Lead, coach, and develop a team of supervisors, maintenance leaders, and frontline employees Build a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement Set clear expectations, monitor performance, and provide ongoing feedback and development opportunities Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies for plant employees   Continuous Improvement & Financial Accountability Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, cost reduction, and throughput Analyze performance gaps and implement data-driven solutions Manage plant operating budget, including labour, overhead, and production costs Support capital planning and execution of equipment and process improvements     Qualifications & Experience Minimum 10+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing, including 5+ years as a Plant Manager or equivalent senior leadership role Mandatory experience in food, beverage, or bottling manufacturing environments Strong maintenance background (Millwright, Electrician, or hands-on technical leadership experience strongly preferred) Proven experience operating in high-speed production environments with a focus on equipment reliability and uptime Post-secondary education in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field is preferred     Skills & Competencies Strong operational leadership with the ability to drive results through others Deep understanding of high-speed bottling equipment, maintenance systems, and production processes Hands-on, solutions-oriented leader with strong troubleshooting capability Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams in a fast-paced environment Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills Experience driving continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across all levels of the organization High sense of ownership, accountability, and urgency     What Success Looks Like Consistent achievement of plant KPIs across safety, quality, delivery, and cost High equipment reliability and reduced downtime through strong maintenance practices Engaged, high-performing team with strong retention and development Continuous improvement mindset embedded across the plant Strong alignment with Ice River’s operational standards and growth objectives     Compensation $120-140K/year to start, depending on experience and certifications