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Vistar

General Manager

Great Western IL (4024)Posted Yesterday
onsite

Job Description

We Deliver the Goods:
  • Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much more
  • Growth opportunities performing essential work to support America’s food distribution system
  • Safe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respect
Position Summary
The General Manager (GM) is responsible for the overall leadership, operational performance, financial results, and strategic growth of the manufacturing plant. This role has full P&L accountability and oversees production, quality, safety, supply chain, maintenance, engineering, and people leadership. The GM ensures safe, compliant, efficient, and cost‑effective manufacturing while driving continuous improvement, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership
  • Provide overall leadership and direction for all plant operations, including production, refining, packaging, warehousing, maintenance, engineering, and logistics.
  • Ensure consistent delivery of production targets related to safety, quality, cost, service, and efficiency.
  • Champion continuous improvement initiatives to drive productivity, yield, and waste reduction.
  • Establish and maintain a strong food safety and workplace safety culture.
  • Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements including FDA, USDA (if applicable), OSHA, EPA, GMPs, HACCP, and relevant food safety certifications.
  • Lead internal and external audits and ensure timely corrective actions.
  • Ensure products consistently meet customer specifications and quality standards.
  • Own full P&L responsibility for the plant, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and capital planning.
  • Analyze financial and operational performance and implement corrective actions to meet or exceed business objectives.
  • Develop and manage capital expenditure plans aligned with strategic priorities and ROI expectations.
  • Build, develop, and retain a high‑performing leadership team. Ensure effective labor relations and workforce planning, including succession planning.
  • Support customer visits and key account relationships as needed.
  • Drive alignment between plant priorities and broader business strategy.
Education and Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in: Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, preferably within food, edible oils, fats, food ingredients, or consumer packaged goods.
  • 5+ years of senior plant leadership experience (Plant Manager, Operations Director, or equivalent) with P&L accountability.
  • Experience in food safety systems, regulatory compliance, and large‑scale continuous processing environments strongly preferred.
Required Skills and Competencies
  • Proven ability to lead complex manufacturing operations with strong safety and quality performance.
  • Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, costs, and capital investments.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to execute through others.
  • Effective communicator who can influence at all levels of the organization.
  • Demonstrated success leading change, driving continuous improvement, and building strong teams.
  • Customer‑focused mindset with a results‑oriented approach.
  • Travel as required for business meetings, customer visits, and corporate engagements.

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General Manager at Vistar | Renata