Plant Manager

Connecticut Innovations is seeking a Plant Manager for its Secaucus, NJ facility. The role involves overseeing daily operations, ensuring safety compliance, managing staff, and optimizing processes in food by-product recycling. The Plant Manager will report to the VP of Operations and is responsible for production efficiency, staff supervision, and maintaining vendor relations. Candidates should have 8+ years of experience in plant operations or waste management.
Are you ready to join Connecticut Innovation’s vibrant community of innovators? Connecticut Innovations (“CI”) is Connecticut’s strategic venture capital arm, and we are passionate about serving our portfolio of 220+ companies across various industries, with strengths in life sciences, technology, and climate tech.

Come join Zero Waste Food Management Services in New England | Bright Feeds & Recycling Bakery Waste as Plant Manager of the New Jersey processing facility!

Wilenta Feed Overview

Founded in 1978, Wilenta Feed is a food by-product recycler that converts food waste into animal feed. Wilenta Feed provides services for collection and disposal of many types of products, excluding foods that are based on meat products or meat by-products.

As one of the nation’s largest suppliers of raw products for animal feed, Wilenta Feed can provide either the finished product or supply the raw material used by other companies to produce animal feed.

Our state-of-the-art facility in New Jersey has been designed to not only save money for our customers, but to benefit the environment as well.

Plant Manager | Role Overview

As we continue to expand, we seek an experienced and hands-on Operations/Plant Manager to oversee day-to-day operations at our Secaucus, NJ manufacturing facility.

The Operations/Plant Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of plant operations, including production capacity and throughput, safety compliance, facility maintenance, and staff management. This role is critical in ensuring smooth processing, blending, and distribution of food by-products while maximizing efficiency and maintaining quality standards. The role reports to the Vice President of Operations and directly supervises operational staff.

Plant Operations & Facility Management
• Oversee daily operations of the NJ facility.
• Ensure efficient intake, sorting, blending, and transfer of food by-products.
• Implement and monitor operational best practices to improve productivity.
• Coordinate maintenance and repair of equipment to minimize disruptions.

Safety & Compliance
• Enforce safety protocols and ensure adherence to OSHA and environmental regulations.
• Maintain compliance with all necessary permits, licenses, and reporting requirements including company licenses, regulatory and state permits, and vehicle records.

Team Leadership & Staff Management
• Supervise, train, and schedule plant personnel to meet production goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Manage hiring, performance evaluations, and workforce planning.

Process Optimization & Cost Control
• Analyze operational data and identify opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency improvements.
• Collaborate with the VP Operations to establish and meet key performance metrics.

Vendor & Customer Relations
• Maintain strong relationships with haulers, suppliers, and regulatory agencies.
• Serve as the main point of contact for operational concerns, resolving issues promptly.

Inventory & Financial Oversight
• Track and manage inventory levels for food by-product material.
• Assist with budget planning, cost tracking, and financial reporting.
• Work with accounting on invoicing, A/R collections, and expense control.

Qualifications & Skills
• 8+ years of experience in plant operations, waste management, or manufacturing leadership.
• Proven experience in team supervision and process optimization.
• Strong understanding of equipment maintenance and operational best practices.
• Knowledge of OSHA, environmental compliance, and safety regulations.
• Ability to problem-solve and make data-driven operational decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook); experience with QuickBooks is a plus.
• Self-motivated leader who takes initiative and ownership.

Connecticut Innovations and its portfolio companies are an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We have strict wage minimums, generous benefits, and personal leave policies. Our goal is to provide safe, rewarding, and empowering work environments for all who interact with our company and/or portfolio companies.