Plant Operations Manager- Farmers Creamery
Open Gates Group · Iowa
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 7+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A management production role at Open Gates Group (industrial) in Iowa. Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production teams to build a strong leadership pipeline.
- They ask for
- 7+ years · degree preferred
- Tools it names
- Root cause, FDA / GMP, EHS / safety
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Iowa: typical posted base $120k–$159k.
Median of the low and high ends of 4 live postings that list pay, out of 13 production engineer openings in Iowa, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Iowa plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 12 other live production postings in Iowa.
- Experience asked
- More than usual (7+ vs 5+)
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Team leadership 54%
- ✓ EHS / safety 38%
- ✓ FDA / GMP 23%
- TPM 23%
- Cost reduction 23%
- PLC 23%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Open Gates Group
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from Open Gates GroupAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
(GMP, HACCP, SQF, OSHA, FDA, USDA, Organic).
- ✓Reinforce a strong food safety culture across all teams.
- ✓Investigate quality or compliance issues, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.
Skills & experience
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Agriculture, Engineering, Operations, or related field preferred.
- ✓7+ years of progressive leadership experience in dairy, food manufacturing, or fluid processing environments.
- ✓Strong knowledge of food safety and regulatory compliance (GMP, HACCP, SQF, OSHA, FDA, USDA).
- ✓Proven ability to lead teams, develop people, and drive operational results.
- ✓Demonstrated experience with KPI development, performance metrics, and data analysis.
- ✓Strong problem‑solving skills with experience in root cause analysis and process improvement.
- ✓Excellent communication and leadership presence with the ability to influence across teams.
- ✓Highly organized with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Description
Open Gates Group, based near Kalona, IA, is a family of companies dedicated to the growth and manufacturing of local dairy products. What began as a single creamery has grown into 11 businesses that source, produce, and deliver high-quality Midwestern products to over 3,500 stores nationwide. Our unique organic milk comes from grass-fed cows on small family farms, pasteurized at the lowest legal temperature, non-homogenized, and verified regenerative through Land to Market- which means that our cows are grazed in a way that enhances the environment, rather than harming it. We’re looking for a hands‑on Plant Operations Manager to lead our dairy production manufacturing efforts at Farmers Creamery.
Summary
The Plant Operations Manager is a hands‑on leader responsible for overseeing all daily production plant operations, while driving performance through strong leadership, data‑driven decision‑making, and continuous improvement. In partnership with operations leaders and cross‑functional teams, this role fosters a safe and high‑performing manufacturing environment, ensuring consistent delivery of high‑quality products that meet customer expectations. This position is highly visible on the production floor and requires a leader who can develop people, solve problems in real time, and translate operational data into actionable improvements.
Leadership & Team Development
- •Provide overall leadership, direction, and coordination for plant operations.
- •Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production teams to build a strong leadership pipeline.
- •Create a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous learning.
- •Conduct regular coaching conversations, performance feedback, and development planning.
- •Ensure staffing, training, and team structure support operational goals.
- •Promote a positive, team‑oriented environment that reinforces safety, quality, and operational excellence.
Operations Management
- •Oversee all daily plant operations, including production and manufacturing activities.
- •Ensure production schedules are executed efficiently to meet customer demand and business objectives.
- •Monitor operations to ensure adherence to plant and corporate procedures.
- •Maintain high standards for safety, efficiency, and product consistency.
- •Increase production asset capacity and flexibility while minimizing unnecessary costs.
Food Safety & Quality
- •Adhere to quality work practices, follow GMPs, and maintain sanitary conditions at all times.
- •Ensure compliance with all food safety and regulatory
Performance Metrics & Analytics
- •Develop, track, and analyze key production KPIs (e.g., yield, throughput, downtime, labor efficiency, quality metrics).
- •Translate operational data into insights that drive performance improvements.
- •Establish standards for performance and accountability across teams.
- •Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities using data‑driven analysis.
Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving
- •Identify and implement strategies to improve plant performance and exceed KPIs.
- •Lead root cause analysis and structured problem‑solving initiatives.
- •Monitor operations to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies; implement sustainable solutions.
- •Drive process improvements that enhance productivity, quality, and cost efficiency.
- •Support and lead change initiatives, including new processes, equipment, or technologies.
Collaboration & Communication
- •Partner with cross‑functional teams including Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, R&D, and HR.
- •Communicate clear expectations, goals, and performance updates across all levels of the organization.
- •Align operational priorities with broader business objectives.
- •Lead regular production meetings focused on safety, performance, and continuous improvement.
Physical & work environment
- •Frequent presence on the production floor.
- •Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift as needed.
- •Exposure to production environments, including cold temperatures, humidity, chemicals, and moving mechanical equipment.
What success looks like
- •Strong, engaged teams with clear accountability and development pathways
- •Measurable improvements in key production KPIs
- •Reduced downtime, waste, and inefficiencies
- •Consistent delivery of safe, high‑quality products
- •A culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
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