"Alerted.org

When it comes to being wild, we know a thing or two. We're not afraid of trying something new or the hard work it takes to make it happen. It's in our DNA. We've turned a family recipe into a new snacking category. And the wilderness into the world's largest meat snack business, that's still proudly family owned and operated.

We're a company built by innovators, and are driven to not only satisfy your hunger, but to also feed your journey – whether that journey is on the road, on the run, at the campground, at the playground, in the office or in the moment. It’s a journey we share with you. It’s the journey forward of our people, of our communities, of our category…with a reverence for quality and an irreverence for the status quo.

At Jack Link's Protein Snacks, we see every moment of every day as an opportunity to move forward, to forge new ground. To realize our vision of becoming the World’s #1 Protein Snack Company. We never give up. You never give up. Together, we keep going. Are you wild enough to join us?

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s Protein Snacks also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company is made up of over 4,000 passionate team members, across 11 countries, who share an uncompromising commitment to delivering awesome products and feeding the journey of those who move things forward. The Jack Link’s Protein Snacks portfolio of brands includes, Jack Link’s, Lorissa’s Kitchen, BiFi, Peperami, Wild River, Golden Island and Country Fresh Meats.

Job Description

Assistant Plant Manager plans, directs and coordinates the food manufacturing operations of an organization. This position is responsible for ensuring and improving the performance, productivity, efficiency, quality, safety, and profitability of departmental and organizational operations through the provision of effective methods and strategies.

+ Reports to the Plant Manager

+ Direct reports include Shift Managers and other departments as deemed necessary

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

+ Oversee all daily plant operations to meet production schedules and demand targets. This includes supporting quality standards, inventory accuracy, production planning schedules, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and implementing corrective actions to improve efficiency

+ Ensure strict adherence to sanitation, food safety, and quality standards, including regulations from bodies like the USDA and FDA, as well as HACCP and GMP protocols

+ Work closely with food quality safety (FSQ) team to uphold product standards, to ensure compliance with company standards and product integrity.

+ Drive continuous improvement initiatives, such as lean manufacturing practices, to maximize output, reduce waste and downtime, and optimize processes

+ Act as the primary point of contact for Managers/Supervisors to address immediate problems that arise on the plant floor. This includes making quick, informed decisions to handle issues like equipment malfunctions, quality deviations, or staffing shortages

+ Ensure effective resource allocation and use of equipment

+ Participate in proactive team efforts to achieve plant and company objectives

+ Collaborate and oversee other levels of the organization

+  Lead, mentor, and motivate Managers/Supervisors and production line team members across multiple shifts. Responsibilities include hiring, training, and performance management to build a positive, high-performing culture

+ Conduct weekly staff meetings to communicate changes, updates, or notifications

+ Review/monitor monthly operations budget and discuss budget overruns

+ Assist in preparation of annual operation budgets and capital expenditures for plant operations to achieve budgets

+ Bachelor’s degree or equivalent 10-year applicable work experience required.

+ 3 + years’ experience in a manager role or above in food manufacturing/ industry

+ Must be experienced with GMP’s, sanitation standards and FDA/SQF requirements. Knowledge of several lines of equipment, fillers, labelers, palletizers, and conveyors.

+ Experience with UKG a plus. 3 years of managing groups of teams to establish and achieve production, safety, quality objectives, and continuous improvement in a high-paced manufacturing environment.

+ Previous supervisory experience should include, strong facilitation, organizational, and communication skills (oral and written), strong computer skills.

+ Proven leadership, analytical and problem-solving skills

+ Ability to read and interpret documents, manuals, and instructions

+ Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

+ Detail-oriented nature and ability to adapt to change

+ Proficient with ERP (SAP) systems and Microsoft Office

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Bi-Lingual in English and Spanish languages

Additional information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.

The hiring range for this role is $108k - $120k (Annually).  Actual wages will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

Benefits

Amazing Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription) through Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Group Term Life and AD&D

Short Term Disability (STD)

Long Term Disability (LTD)

Matching 401k

9 Company Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Pet Insurance

Discounted Jerky

Fashionable Wearables

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, and reach with hands and arms.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. Travel may be required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Jack Link's is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify

Jack Link's provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new Team Member’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that Jack Link’s has violated our responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.