The Role
Provide strategic leadership for plant operations to improve Safety, Quality, Reliability, productivity, and employee engagement. Oversee workforce planning, budgeting, regulatory compliance, asset management, SQF 2000 food safety systems, and community/government relations. Coach leadership, drive performance metrics, and manage costs and materials to meet business objectives.
Summary Generated by Built In
Lead and execute implementation of integrated strategies, processes, and systems designed to increase workplace productivity and engagement. Attract, retain, engage and develop leadership team with requisite skills and abilities to meet current and future business needs. Drive increasing levels of customer and employee satisfaction while improving the efficiency of manpower, materials and production processes. Perform all jobs safely, efficiently and accurately to maintain and improve the performance of the entire plant in the areas of Safety, Quality, Reliability (SQR) and our Customer 1st strategy. Provide leadership that embodies our 7 Manufacturing High Performance Work System principles. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.Responsibilities- Provide strategic leadership to align our business and people practices toward deliverables representative of best in class.
- Keep abreast of market conditions, competition, technological advancements, government regulations and supplier dynamics that impact our business
- Establish measurement tools and data analytics to provide Senior Management with strategic risk insight
- Lead High Performing Work Teams to achieve balanced performance against key measurements and objectives
- Serve as ranking executive of the facility; act as local company representative in dealing and complying with governmental agencies, suppliers and local community relations.
- Protect, manage and maximize the use of all company assets.
- Lead strategic workforce planning design and efficient management of sound processes for identifying and filling workforce needs
- Prepare annual operating budgets with plant and division staff and execute plans within agreed upon budgetary and time constraints
- Ensure controls are in place to analyze, react to and minimize cost factors of labor, material, and burden in the plant operations
- Maintain and operate plant at established levels of Safety, Quality, and Reliability; ensure high program visibility and effectiveness while adhering to Corporate and division guidelines and standards
- Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
- Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF 2000 Systems.
- Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
- Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provides feedback to direct reports.
- Must be able to work around ingredients and/or finished products known to contain food allergens
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
QualificationsMinimum
- Bachelor's Degree Business or related field, or equivalent work experience
- 5+ years leadership experience in manufacturing operations
- Proven highly effective management skills
- Position level determined by plant size and operational complexity
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strong strategic thinking, critical thinking, and analytical ability
- Thorough knowledge of plant operations and procedures
- High degree of integrity and judgment
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
Desired
- 3+ years of Fluid Dairy Manufacturing Leadership experience
- 8+ years of Food Manufacturing/Processing or equivalent experience
- Management experience in a union environment
- Keep abreast of market conditions, competition, technological advancements, government regulations and supplier dynamics that impact our business
- Establish measurement tools and data analytics to provide Senior Management with strategic risk insight
- Lead High Performing Work Teams to achieve balanced performance against key measurements and objectives
- Serve as ranking executive of the facility; act as local company representative in dealing and complying with governmental agencies, suppliers and local community relations.
- Protect, manage and maximize the use of all company assets.
- Lead strategic workforce planning design and efficient management of sound processes for identifying and filling workforce needs
- Prepare annual operating budgets with plant and division staff and execute plans within agreed upon budgetary and time constraints
- Ensure controls are in place to analyze, react to and minimize cost factors of labor, material, and burden in the plant operations
- Maintain and operate plant at established levels of Safety, Quality, and Reliability; ensure high program visibility and effectiveness while adhering to Corporate and division guidelines and standards
- Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
- Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF 2000 Systems.
- Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles
- Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provides feedback to direct reports.
- Must be able to work around ingredients and/or finished products known to contain food allergens
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
QualificationsMinimum
- Bachelor's Degree Business or related field, or equivalent work experience
- 5+ years leadership experience in manufacturing operations
- Proven highly effective management skills
- Position level determined by plant size and operational complexity
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strong strategic thinking, critical thinking, and analytical ability
- Thorough knowledge of plant operations and procedures
- High degree of integrity and judgment
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
Desired
- 3+ years of Fluid Dairy Manufacturing Leadership experience
- 8+ years of Food Manufacturing/Processing or equivalent experience
- Management experience in a union environment
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business or related field, or equivalent work experience
- 5+ years leadership experience in manufacturing operations
- Proven highly effective management skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Strong strategic thinking, critical thinking, and analytical ability
- Thorough knowledge of plant operations and procedures
- High degree of integrity and judgment
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- Ability to work around ingredients and/or finished products known to contain food allergens
- Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation
- 3+ years of Fluid Dairy Manufacturing leadership experience
- 8+ years of Food Manufacturing/Processing or equivalent experience
- Management experience in a union environment
Kroger Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Kroger and has not been reviewed or approved by Kroger.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage in many union divisions has been protected or improved in recent contracts, with some regions avoiding proposed cuts and others expanding spousal coverage and strengthening short‑term disability. Mental‑health resources and 24/7 access are also emphasized, supported by third‑party recognition in recent years.
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Retirement Support — Retirement options include a company 401(k) with a match and, in many union roles, access to pension or variable annuity plans that have been stabilized through recent agreements. Match levels and pension participation vary by division and role, so specifics require local confirmation.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Education assistance through “Feed Your Future” offers substantial tuition support for both part‑ and full‑time associates, alongside free financial coaching. Perks such as associate discounts and periodic Boost membership offers add incremental value to total rewards.
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The Company
What We Do
At Kroger, we believe no matter who you are or how you like to shop, everyone deserves affordable, easy-to-enjoy, fresh food. This idea is embodied in our simple tagline—Fresh for Everyone™. Kroger ranks as one of the world’s largest retailers. We are nearly half a million associates across 2,800 stores in 35 states operating two dozen grocery retail brands and 34 manufacturing and 44 distribution locations, all dedicated to living our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™. Together, we serve more than 11 million customers daily in our stores and online through convenient e-commerce options like pickup, ship and delivery, serving America through food inspiration and uplift. Customers love Our Brands, including the popular Kroger®, Private Selection® and Simple Truth® brands. Our own manufacturing plants produce many of Our Brands products, including breads, dairy products, meat and thousands of grocery items. We also believe in and are committed to doing our part to create #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025.
