Branding Iron Holdings

Senior Plant Manager

Seeking experienced Senior Plant Manager to transform processes and drive excellence through people-centric operation and lean manufacturing strategies in Sauget, Illinois!

ABOUT THE COMPANY + ROLE

Newly acquired by Kingswood Capital Management (“Kingswood”), Branding Iron Holdings (“Branding Iron”) is poised for growth and success! For over 60 years, Branding Iron has been producing high quality branded and private label beef and pork products and delivering customized solutions to the food service and retail trade industries. With deep experience in the food and protein industry and an eye towards the future, Kingswood’s acquisition will position Branding Iron to scale for success and to support customers across every channel. Check out the recent news regarding Kingswood Capital and Branding Iron here.

Branding Iron is seeking a Senior Plant Manager to join a collaborative and results-oriented senior leadership team who is passionate about taking operational improvements to the next level. Reporting to BIH’s Chief Operating Officer, this newly defined role will guide plant strategy and a six-person team with oversight for warehouse, quality, maintenance, production, safety and sanitation management. Visit us at www.bih-us.com.

Branding Iron now boasts 800+ employees across three plant locations with corporate headquarters based within the Holten Meat Food Processing Plant in Sauget, Illinois. The Sauget facility is divided into a temperature-controlled manufacturing area, distribution zone, and a 17K-square-foot office with a laboratory and full-service test kitchen. With sister facilities in Rochester and Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, Branding Iron manufactures frozen and refrigerated beef patties, portioned steak, and breaded and pork products, including well-known brands such as Holten’s Chop House burgers and Holten’s Party Pack beef patties.

YOUR MISSION

• SERVE AS A GROWTH-CENTRIC PLANT LEADER – Serve as a senior member of BIH’s operations team, identifying and implementing process improvement and change management initiatives to support BIH’s strategic goals. Streamline operational strategies and lean initiatives with plant leadership across locations. Model and exemplify core values with integrity and ethics to ensure a positive workforce culture.
• EMPOWER A HIGH-PERFORMING PRODUCTION TEAM – Provide inspirational leadership for a team of six people leaders within a unionized environment, including day-to-day oversight for safety, production, quality, sanitation, maintenance and warehouse management. Ensure right people are in right seats, partnering closely with HR to proactively manage union relations, evaluate manager succession, and right-size each department structure for success. Communicate roadmap for growth with meaningful KPI’s.
• ENERGIZE & TRANSFORM OPERATIONAL PRACTICES – Identify and implement action plans for plant and warehouse improvements. Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring adherence to safety standards and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local laws. Support the development of next-level policies and programs to achieve best-in-class quality and safety programs. Promote optimal functioning and longevity of equipment through proactive management of physical assets.
• LEAD LEAN & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES – Introduce lean and continuous improvement to drive a healthy culture of accountability, collaboration and ownership. Lead initiatives aimed at waste reduction, process optimization, and cost savings. Track impact on operational efficiency. Utilize a data-driven approach to corrective action planning and root cause. Identify and implement best SOPs and empower team to drive innovation. Partner with sister plants to streamline best practices across sites.

IS THIS A MATCH FOR YOU?

• You have gained 8-10+ years of progressive plant operations and/or direct plant management experience, including a minimum of 5+ years oversight for a team of people leaders.
• You bring a demonstrated record of success leading team(s) within a USDA processing site, including strong know-how in lean manufacturing and substantial experience in manufacturing leadership roles.  Prior experience as a Plant Manager or Operations Director in small-to-mid-sized facility or Operations Manager in a large-sized processing site is desired.
• Experience within a union environment strongly preferred. Prior experience within private equity and or family-owned ownership structures is also ideal
• You bring strong skills in lean manufacturing and in leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• You bring process transformation know-how. You bring experience communicating a vision and a road map with patience and clarity to a wide range of stakeholders.
• You are well-versed in budget management, project management and data analysis.
• You are willing to serve as a hands-on leader with the ability and desire to flex between strategic and tactical priorities required. Superior project management skills and a proactive mindset is required.
• You bring strong people leadership skills with a healthy dose of emotional intelligence. Ability to inspire and motivate, manage conflict, and foster a healthy organizational culture is a must-have. You are well-versed in proactively communicating in a transparent manner and confidently interacting at all levels with diplomacy and tact.
• You are savvy with technology, including Microsoft Office Suite, and various ERP systems.
• Four-year college degree is required. MBA or advanced degree and/or relevant certifications a plus.

WHY JOIN US?

• MAKE A TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT – If you are seeking an opportunity to transform ops, leverage data, utilize new resources, and empower talent to drive success, we want to talk with you! You will join a team who values innovation and a desire to challenge the status quo.
• WE ARE COMMITED TO AN INTENTIONAL GROWTH JOURNEY – Under new ownership, we are dedicated to an intentional growth journey, driven through both organic and acquisition strategies. This role will be critical in establishing best processes to enhance our capabilities.
• DRIVE A PEOPLE FIRST & LEAN-CENTRIC CULTURE – Driving a lean-centric, people-first culture to echo our long history of family values of transparency, honesty, innovation, and collaboration is our desire.
• COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION & BENEFITS PACKAGE – Competitive base salary ($150,000-$225,000 annually) and annual bonus plan with comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances, matching 401K plan, profit sharing and paid time off.

LOCATION & TRAVEL

This role is based at corporate headquarters in Sauget, IL, and, requires onsite leadership as well as occasional travel (approx. 10%) to other plant locations in Minnesota. Relocation stipend is available.

READY TO APPLY?

Share your resume with Occhio Search by submitting the interest form on this page. All resumes, referrals and general inquiries will be held strictly confidential. We ask that you direct all questions, referrals, and applications to our retained search consultant at Occhio. No direct inquiries with Branding Iron Holdings, please. Contact Sarah Krueger at sarah@occhiosearch.com or Elly Richards at elly@occhiosearch.com with application questions, to make referrals and for more information.

Branding Iron Holdings is an Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.