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Senior-Level Plant Director

WK Kellogg Co · Battle Creek, MI

Level
Director+
Team
Production
Base pay
$216k–$270k
Degree
Required
Experience asked
10+ years
Industry
Food & beverage
Posted
15 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level production role at WK Kellogg Co (food & beverage) in Battle Creek, MI. Lead a large-scale, 24/7 manufacturing operation with accountability for safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, and employee engagement.

They ask for
10+ years · degree required
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, EHS / safety
Base pay
$216k–$270k
Day to day
some off-shift / weekend coverage

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Production Engineer roles in Michigan: typical posted base $143k–$205k. This one lists $216k–$270k.

Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 33 production engineer openings in Michigan, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Michigan plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 32 other live production postings in Michigan.

Experience asked
More than usual (10+ vs 8+)

Similar roles usually ask 8+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • Team leadership 55%
  • ✓ Lean 52%
  • ✓ Six Sigma 39%
  • Cost reduction 39%
  • Casting 27%
  • ✓ EHS / safety 27%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for TPM, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 10+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Off-shift / weekend coverage

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at WK Kellogg Co

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 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. 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 does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 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. 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.

This plant: WK Kellogg Co in Battle Creek

3 other open roles at this site.

Full description from WK Kellogg CoAs posted on their careers site.Show

Senior-Level Plant Director

Location: Battle Creek, Michigan

Iconic Plant Transformation at WK Kellogg Co

At WK Kellogg Co, we exist to create joy and connection to inspire Gr-r-reat days.

We are passionate about doing our part to make nutritious foods, create social connectivity and respect natural resources.

Together, these actions create positive progress for people and the planet – today and for years to come.

We have big plans for how we are going to accomplish this, and we would love for you to join our team.

The most compelling leadership opportunities aren’t always about stepping into something already built. Sometimes they’re about helping shape what comes next.

WK Kellogg Co is in the midst of meaningful supply chain modernization, creating an opportunity for an accomplished manufacturing leader to lead transformation, build capability, strengthen culture, and translate investment into sustainable operational performance. This is more than an opportunity to run a plant. It is an opportunity to lead a complex manufacturing operation at an important point in its evolution and make a visible impact on our people, our performance and some of the most iconic brands in the food industry.

You won’t simply inherit an operation. You’ll have the opportunity to help build what comes next.

What You’ll Lead

Plant Transformation & Operational Excellence

  • •Lead a large-scale, 24/7 manufacturing operation with accountability for safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, and employee engagement.
  • •Lead major transformation, modernization, and capital initiatives from strategy through execution and sustainable performance.
  • •Drive operational excellence through disciplined performance management, data-driven decision-making, and proven continuous improvement systems, including IWS, Lean, TPM and Six Sigma.
  • •Build the organizational and technical capabilities needed to sustain performance and continuous improvement.
Show full description ↓

People, Culture & Labor Leadership

  • •Build, develop and retain a strong leadership team capable of leading through change.
  • •Create a culture of engagement, accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
  • •Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, and workforce planning.
  • •Foster productive labor-management partnerships and work effectively with union leadership.

Business, Financial & Quality Leadership

  • •Own plant financial performance and P&L results, driving productivity, cost optimization, and sound business decisions.
  • •Champion safety, food safety and quality, with accountability for regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and risk management.
  • •Translate business priorities into clear plant objectives, performance expectations, and measurable results.

What You Bring

  • •Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Food Science, or a related discipline.
  • •10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including leadership of large-scale operations with 300+ employees.
  • •Demonstrated P&L responsibility and strong business and financial acumen.
  • •Leadership experience in a unionized manufacturing environment.
  • •Proven success leading significant operational transformation, modernization, and/or major capital investment initiatives.
  • •Strong track record of building leadership capability and high-performing teams.
  • •Food manufacturing experience with a strong focus on safety and quality.
  • •Experience with IWS, Lean, TPM, Six Sigma or comparable manufacturing systems.

Highly valued experience includes: leadership within a large Consumer Packaged Goods organization; cereal, food, or beverage manufacturing; major equipment installation/start-up; and environmental monitoring or microbiological food safety programs.

Why WK? Why Now?

Iconic brands. Meaningful transformation. Visible impact.

This is an opportunity for a leader energized by change, accountability, and the challenge of building something better.

Bring your experience, leadership, and ambition to help shape the next chapter of manufacturing at WK Kellogg Co .

Salary pay ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, the successful candidate’s starting base pay will be determined based on factors including job-related skills, experience, certifications, qualifications, relevant education or training, and local market conditions.

At WK Kellogg Co, our success depends on our most vital asset — our people. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with benefits and programs that support your Total Health and your journey to be and feel your best — physically, financially, emotionally, and socially.

Although subject to change, the below are the benefits currently offered in association with this position:

  • •Incentive Plan bonus eligibility
  • •Health, dental and vision insurance
  • •Savings and Investment Plan with Company match and contribution
  • •Paid Time Off (includes paid sick time)
  • •11 Paid Holidays
  • •Life Insurance, AD and D Insurance and STD/LTD
  • •Tuition reimbursement, adoption assistance for eligible employees
  • •Employee recognition program

The above offerings are subject to the terms of WKKC policies, which will control in the event of a conflict with the above descriptions

Our comprehensive and competitive benefits not only deliver value to you and your family, but also offer choice to meet your unique needs and knowledge to empower confident decision-making.

About wk kellogg co

At WK Kellogg Co, we bring our best to everyone, every day through our trusted foods and brands. Our journey began in 1894, when our founder W.K. Kellogg reimagined the future of food with the creation of Corn Flakes, changing breakfast forever. Since then, we have embraced the same spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in everything we do, channeling our founder’s passion and commitment to creating high quality and delicious products while fostering communities. Our ic

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