Job Description

Plant Manager

Haag am Hausruck, Austria

Annual gross salary of €85,000, with the possibility of overpayment depending on qualifications and experience.

Ready to take the reins of a manufacturing powerhouse and leave your mark? We’re searching for a Plant Manager who doesn’t just run operations — you reinvent them, shaping strategy, elevating performance, and driving continuous improvement at every level. In this role, you’ll lead a skilled team, champion innovation, and make bold decisions that secure excellence in safety, quality, and productivity every single day. If you thrive on complexity, embrace accountability, and want to create real, measurable impact in a dynamic global environment, this is where you step into your next level of leadership. Join us and transform not just a plant — but its future in pet food manufacturing in Taste, Texture & Health (TTH).

Your key responsibilities

• Own the plant's manufacturing strategy: Develop and execute the plant manufacturing plan aligned with business objectives, ensuring production delivers on time, on spec, every time.
• Drive operational excellence: Manage daily operations, maintenance, and production planning to optimize efficiency, capacity, and quality while meeting all safety and environmental standards.
• Invest in the future: Translate strategy into long-term investment and maintenance plans, secure budgets, and ensure your plant is ready for tomorrow's demands.
• Lead innovation and change: Champion new technologies, oversee capital projects, and implement game-changing improvements that boost performance and competitiveness during the transformation from human to animal nutrition.
• Mitigate risk proactively: Identify operational and QSHE risks, recommend solutions, and take swift action to protect people, assets, and production goals.
• Lead and inspire your team: Build a high-performing, motivated workforce through coaching, development, and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

We offer

• A career‑defining challenge: Lead one of our most strategic transformations—from human to animal nutrition—shaping the plant’s future.
• Real impact & full ownership: Your decisions influence performance, competitiveness, and millions in business value.
• Growth without borders: Access global career paths, leadership development, and cross‑functional opportunities.
• A culture that empowers: We trust your expertise, support your vision, and celebrate bold leadership.
• Innovation at your fingertips: Work with new technologies, capital upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Competitive rewards & security: Enjoy outstanding compensation, benefits, and long‑term stability in a global industry leader.

You bring

• Proven manufacturing leadership: Extensive experience managing plant operations, ideally in a complex, multi-functional manufacturing environment.
• Strategic and operational mindset: Ability to translate business strategy into actionable plans, manage budgets, and deliver results against KPIs.
• QSHE expertise: Deep knowledge of Quality, Safety, Health, and Environmental standards, with a track record of compliance and continuous improvement.
• People leadership excellence: Strong HR and team management skills—you coach, motivate, and develop talent to meet current and future business needs.
• Financial acumen: Experience in budget management, cost control, and performance reporting to support informed decision-making.
• Problem-solver and innovator: Proactive, resilient, and results-driven, with the ability to navigate complexity, manage crises, and drive change.

Our application process

Interested in this role? Then please apply online only via our career portal.

About dsm-firmenich

At dsm-firmenich, we don’t just meet expectations – we go beyond them.

Join our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.

From elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions – every single day. Whether it’s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that’s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.

And while you’re making a difference, we’ll make sure you’re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They’re essential to our future.

Because real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement

At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.

And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.

Agency statement

We’re managing this search directly at dsm-firmenich. If you’re applying as an individual, we’d love to hear from you. We’re not accepting agency submissions or proposals involving fees or commissions for this role.