Plant Technical Manager - Belvidere, IL Plant

POSITION OVERVIEW

Belvidere is a manufacturing facility of appx. 700 employees serving the Snacks Operating Unit and C&F Segment. We operate in a dynamic business environment, with a rich history of performance, innovation and renovation. Recently, we added Natural and Organic bars and Fruit by the Foot production into our portfolio after divesting Green Giant, which concluded over 120 years of vegetable growing and manufacturing. We are continuing to evolve to a more complex product portfolio to meet the changing needs of our consumers and customers (organic, non-GMO, new packing formats). The Belvidere plant is a very strategic and critical plant to both the NAR and C&F Segments and continues to be a magnet for investment and growth. As a member of the Plant Leadership Team, you'll gain significant cross-functional team leadership and people management experience.

The Plant Technical Manager is responsible for providing the technical expertise and technical leadership to deliver results for the plant and the businesses it supports. The PTM is responsible for direct reports of the engineers on site and has accountability for Maintenance. This role will provide critical technical leadership for major capital projects and ensure active Line Teams have solutions needed to drive safety, quality, and performance plans.

This role reports directly to the site Plant Manager and has dotted line functional engineering accountability to Central Engineering at world headquarters. The role has 14 direct reports which includes the addition of an Assistant Plant Technical Manager in FY26.

To learn more about our Belvidere plant and surrounding area click here!

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Leadership

• Development of site strategic plan for technical staffing, capital investment, general competencies, and system/technology improvements
• Coaching, mentoring, and development of plant technical resources
• Accountability for management of external technical relationships with A/E firms, contractors, and equipment vendors
• Provide technical leadership and site compliance with EPA and OSHA requirements in concert with designated functional experts
• Provide site leadership to achieve maximization/optimization of capital assets and site utilization as well as lead safety initiatives in technical areas
• Ensure compliance to GMI Financial Policies & Procedures
• Understand Infrastructure Utility and Facility Capacity and Limitations

Capital Planning & Execution

• Develop short- term and long-range capital investment plans for facility and be accountable for the planning and execution of all projects
• Responsible for the capital investment process for the site (e.g. standards, project management, capital approval, etc.)
• Manage Site Cashflow and meet expectations of Global Engineering
• Stewart of GMI Capital ensuring investment strategy meets business need and plant risks

Vertical Start Up/Continuous Improvement/Manufacturing Excellence

• Develop and support strategies that integrate Vertical Start Up (VSU) Continuous Improvement and Manufacturing Excellence methodologies into the Master Plan
• Provide leadership for the application of Manufacturing Excellence to meet business objectives
• Provide site leadership for technical solutions to operational problems including systems optimization, debottlenecking, and troubleshooting
• Accountable for the strategy, design and implementation of control systems and manufacturing information systems

Maintenance & Reliability

• Coach and develop Maintenance and Facilities Manager to integrate Maintenance into Manufacturing Excellence. Provide strategy and support for maintenance programs, development of tools and resources, personnel selection, training and development. Integrate Maintenance into the strategy for the broader technical community at the plant
  • Ensure the proper selection, training, development and motivation of leaders to maximize current and future performance
  • Lead and support plant continuous improvement initiatives
• Contribute as an integral part of a senior plant leadership team to drive the plant strategy and culture
• Ensure Budget Management and HMM targets align with site reliability goals

Early Career Development

• Champion Early Career Development ensuring needs of new program members are resourced
• Manage and Development rotational experience program that aligns to global ECD strategy

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or related degree with applicable experience or extensive relevant work experience
• 7+ years technical experience in project engineering, systems or process engineering, facilities management, or technical discipline engineering in a manufacturing environment with maintenance experience
• Strong track record of engineering aptitude, ability to apply engineering principles, and problem solving
• Strong leadership skills, including experience leading others in projects or programs, and the ability to successfully interact with individuals representing other areas or interests and the ability to manage team leaders & mechanics
• Understanding and experience interacting with multiple business functions, including Quality Control, Purchasing, Distribution, Human Resources, Finance and especially Operations
• Ability to identify potential business solutions involving a broad scope of thinking across businesses and functions to develop new innovation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
• Experience directly leading maintenance teams
• Experience directly leading a team of engineers
• Experience with industrial and/or labor relations from working in a manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of and experience with manufacturing improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma, TPM, Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Excellence, or Lean Manufacturing

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• International relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.
• Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas.

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what's next.