The Site Director leads all operations at Corbion's 200+ employee food manufacturing facility in Totowa, NJ. This highly visible, floor-focused leader is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of the plant, ensuring strong performance in safety, quality, service, cost, and employee engagement. The role oversees all functional areas including Safety, Production, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Continuous Improvement, while driving alignment with corporate objectives and customer expectations.
Key Responsibilities- Lead day-to-day plant operations to achieve safety, quality, service, and cost targets.
- Serve as the senior safety leader, ensuring compliance with GMPs, FSMA, environmental regulations, and all company policies.
- Demonstrate visible, hands-on leadership by maintaining a strong presence on the floor, conducting safety observations, encouraging near-miss reporting, and reinforcing standards.
- Direct planning, process development, and overall manufacturing performance; respond to production issues and implement sustainable solutions.
- Drive operational excellence through Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies and initiatives; standardize and optimize processes.
- Manage production, quality control, maintenance, shipping/receiving, and plant safety functions.
- Develop long-range goals, budgets, and operational plans; analyze cost, operations, and forecast data to ensure progress toward objectives.
- Build, coach, and develop a high-performing leadership team; foster accountability, inclusion, and strong employee engagement.
- Partner closely with HR on union relations, negotiations, grievances, training, and workforce development.
- Collaborate with Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and other corporate partners to align on demand, service, cost, and strategic initiatives.
- Promote transparent communication, customer focus, and cross-functional problem solving.
- Deliver clear, data-driven presentations to executive leadership, including P&L performance and continuous improvement progress.
- Champion innovation and "out-of-the-box" thinking to elevate safety, quality, and cost competitiveness.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
What You Bring- Bachelor's Degree in Science, Business, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience (food or regulated environment preferred).
- Proven success driving safety, operational excellence, cost control, and team development.
- Strong financial acumen, including budget management and P&L-related decision-making.
- Experience leading in a unionized environment.
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; strong customer service orientation and sense of urgency.
- Superior organizational and multi-tasking abilities; proficiency with PC-based systems and spreadsheets.
- Ability to lead through change, maintain clarity under shifting priorities, and build trust across all levels of the organization.
Our offer The anticipated compensation range for this position is $174,000 to $200,000. The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and years of experience within the job, the type years of and experience within the industry, education, etc. Please note, Corbion is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect positions that work in other states or locations. In addition to the base compensation, we offer the following benefits*:
- Bonus potential
- Paid time off, including company holidays
- 401K with company match
- Medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance coverage are offered to employees and eligible dependents (provided they meet eligibility requirements)
- Flexible spending accounts
- Education assistance
- Short- and long- term disability
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Lifestyle and wellness benefits
*Please note, this is intended to provide a general description of benefits and other compensation and is not a substitute for applicable plan documents or company policies. Eligibility requirements for these benefits will be controlled by applicable plan documents.
