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About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

The Plant Leader holds full accountability for the strategic leadership and operational excellence of the Rothschild, Wisconsin facility, a key site specializing in pharmaceutical-grade lactose production through advanced spray drying technologies. This role drives the long-term success of the plant by ensuring strict compliance with global pharmaceutical standards while optimizing efficiency, safety, and quality. Leveraging Kerry’s 1KPS methodologies, the Plant Director champions continuous improvement and fosters a culture of innovation and performance. Acting as the global representative for Integrated Operations within the Excipient/Pharma pillar, collaborating closely with Commercial teams and TPMs to align operational capabilities with business growth objectives.

Key responsibilities

To succeed in this role, you must be able to deliver on all core responsibilities with excellence. Key accountabilities include, but are not limited to

•  Provide strategic oversight of all plant operations, ensuring alignment with business objectives, regulatory compliance, and long-term growth plans.

•  Strengthen stakeholder relationships, collaborating across internal global teams and with external customers to support business objectives.

•  Foster a culture of Safety and Quality compliance, meeting or exceeding OSHA and global pharmaceutical standards.

•  Drive production excellence for pharmaceutical-grade lactose by leveraging advanced spray drying technologies and best-in-class practices.

•  Optimize financial and operational performance through cost control, resource allocation, and efficiency improvements.

•  Lead capital investment and infrastructure projects to enable future capacity, innovation, and technological advancement.

•  Champion continuous improvement and sustainability initiatives using Kerry’s 1KPS methodologies to enhance quality and operational agility.

•  Ensure robust inventory management and quality control systems to maintain product integrity and customer trust.

•  Shape talent strategy, including workforce development, leadership capability building, and succession planning.

•  Adapt and contribute to evolving priorities to support plant and organizational goals.

•  Perform other duties as assigned to support plant and organizational goals.

Qualifications and skills

Key competencies

•  Demonstrated business acumen and transformational leadership to drive operational excellence and growth.

•  Expertise in pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing standards and regulatory compliance.

•  Proven capability in spray drying technologies for high-quality production.

•  Comprehensive understanding of pharmaceutical lactose excipients (e.g., crystalline monohydrate, anhydrous, spray-dried) for granulation and direct tableting.

•  Strong command of HACCP principles, food safety systems, and global regulatory frameworks to ensure uncompromising quality.

•  Proficiency in continuous improvement, change management, and operational excellence methodologies to deliver sustainable performance. Education/Qualifications BS/MS in Engineering, Business, Food Science, or related field. Proven track record in plant management (7+ years) within regulated industry

The pay range for this position is $125,100 - $217,500 in Annual Base Salary. Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition, this position is also eligible to earn a performance-based incentive compensation. Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement. This job posting is anticipated to expire on 1/31/2026.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Kerry is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, military service, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This commitment applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, and career development. Kerry also takes affirmative action to ensure that minorities, women, disabled veterans, and other protected groups are introduced into our workforce and considered for promotional opportunities.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today and help us deliver better food for a better world.