Plant Manager

Are you ready for your next adventure?

At Oregon Freeze Dry, innovation isn’t just a buzzword, it’s our foundation. We are a purpose driven company with six decades of expertise in freeze-drying technology. Best known as the makers of Mountain House© meals, we are experts in advanced lyophilization solutions that can help people live healthier lives. Our headquarters in Albany, Oregon sits at the crossroads of science and nature, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes that fuel bold ideas and transformative breakthroughs. We're driven by a commitment to quality, creativity, and continuous improvement, and we're always looking ahead to what's next. We’re proud of our legacy, but our future is even more exciting. If you're passionate and ready to make an impact, Oregon Freeze Dry isn't just a place to work, it's where your adventure begins.

We are looking for a Plant Manager to join the Manufacturing team. In this role, you’ll provide strategic leadership for site operations, ensuring the safe, compliant, and efficient production of high-quality freeze-dried products. You’ll drive daily performance, foster an engaged workforce, and champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is someone who brings strong manufacturing leadership experience, thrives in a regulated environment, and is passionate about aligning operations with business goals to deliver operational excellence.

You will get to:

• Provide day-to-day and strategic leadership for the Plant 4 manufacturing facility.
• Provide hands-on leadership and daily oversight of all plant operations to ensure the safe, compliant, and efficient production of nutraceutical products.
• Champion a positive and inclusive workplace culture by fostering trust, accountability, transparency, and open communication; actively engage employees to build morale, strengthen team dynamics, and promote a collaborative, high-performing team environment.
• Promote a safety-first culture by actively engaging in safety programs and ensuring full adherence to health and safety protocols.
• Ensure full compliance with GMP standards and FDA regulatory requirements, with a strong emphasis on employee practices and accurate documentation.
• Collaborate closely with Quality, Engineering & Maintenance, and Technical Services to quickly resolve and maintain process and product integrity.
• Drive consistency and operational excellence through proactive, hands-on involvement and attention to daily execution.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and utilize the Daily Management System (DMS) to highlight strengths, identify opportunities, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Deliver excellent customer service by maintaining capacity, improving processes, following production plans and communicating effectively.
• Support the introduction and scale-up of new products and processes, ensuring smooth integration into operations with minimal disruption and long-term sustainability.

• Generally, a minimum of six (6) years of experience in food, dietary supplement, or nutraceutical manufacturing, preferably in a GMP-regulated environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations or related technical or business field is preferred.
• Generally, a minimum of three (3) years of experience leading and managing teams.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP regulations and quality systems as applied in food, nutraceutical, dietary supplement, or pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with lyophilization processes and equipment used in the production of nutraceutical or life science products is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to foster a positive, inclusive work environment through transparent communication, employe engagement, and team building strategies, that enhance morale and drive performance.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a continuous improvement mindset and familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ERP systems, with the ability to analyze data and monitor key performance indicators
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities, with the flexibility to juggle multiple priorities in a dynamic production environment.
• Comfortable working in a 24/7 manufacturing environment, with the flexibility to provide support and be on call as needed to ensure smooth operations.
  
  OFD contains office, manufacturing and outdoor workspaces where this position is required to access and work. The position requires a person to be able to frequently walk, stand and climb; bend and twist; see, hear and talk; use hands to type, handle or feel tools, controls; use hands and arms to reach, hold and carry tools or items. This position also requires a person to handle environments of varied temperatures and with various food allergens present; and be comfortable at various heights.

• Customize your healthcare coverage: including medical, dental, and vision options to fit your needs.
• Boost your savings: Choose an FSA or HSA for extra flexibility.
• Plan for your future: enroll into our 401(k) with employer match and immediate vesting.
• Peace of mind: Life and disability insurance to keep you and your loved ones protected.
• Furry friends: Pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
• Recharge & Refresh: Enjoy paid company holidays, PTO and sick time
• Give back: join us in making a difference with community support opportunities.
• Score savings: Unlock exclusive employee discounts and special savings on Mountain House product.
• Spread the word: Earn bonuses for referring awesome new team members.

Oregon Freeze Dry is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. We value diversity and are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all employees. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or disability.

All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment may be required to take and pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check