Top 178 Manufacturing Jobs in Kalona, Ia

Plant Operations Manager- Farmers Creamery
Farmers Creamery —Wellman, IA
- 7 years
- Senior level
- Leadership
Quick Apply
Bilingual Continuous Improvement Specialist
Pete and Gerrys Organics LLC —Kalona, IA
- Full-time
- Spanish
- English
- Mid-level
- Paid holidays
- Disability insurance
Quick Apply
Automation Controls Specialist
Open Gate Business Development —Wellman, IA
- Full-time
- Google Workspace
- Mid-level
- Office
- Health savings account
- Health insurance
Quick Apply
Assembly Worker
Kelly —West Branch, IA
- $22.00 - $22.50 an hour
- Temporary
- High school diploma or GED
- Continuous improvement
- US work authorization
- Paid holidays
- Disability insurance
4d
Steamfitter I
ENGIE —Iowa City, IA
- $24.38 - $33.00 an hour
- Full-time
- Clean driving record
- High school diploma or GED
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Paid holidays
Chemical Technician
Actalent —Coralville, IA
- $24.89 - $26.33 an hour
- Contract
- ERP systems
- Mid-level
- Fair chance
- Commuter assistance
- Health savings account
Quick Apply
9d
Steamfitter I
ENGIE —Iowa City, IA
- $24.38 - $33.00 an hour
- Full-time
- Clean driving record
- High school diploma or GED
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Paid holidays
Chemical Technician
Actalent —Coralville, IA
- $24.89 - $28.50 an hour
- Temporary
- OSHA
- Basic math
- ERP systems
- Commuter assistance
- Health savings account
Quick Apply
9d
Reliability Engineer
Plastic Executive Recruiters, LLC —Iowa City, IA
- $90,000 - $130,000 a year
- Full-time
- Mid-level
- In-person
- 4 years
- Relocation assistance
- Health insurance
Quick Apply
Water Distribution and Wastewater Compliance Coordinator
ENGIE —Iowa City, IA
- $30.43 - $46.60 an hour
- Full-time
- Clean driving record
- 5 years
- Engineering
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Paid holidays
20h
Electrical Systems Assembler
Accelera —West Branch, IA
- $21.85 - $29.70 an hour
- Full-time
- Mid-level
- 3 years
- High school diploma or GED
Quick Apply
QA Manager
Alpla Inc. —Iowa City, IA
- Full-time
- 5 years
- Bachelor's degree
- Conflict management
- Paid holidays
- Disability insurance
Quick Apply
Shipping Clerk
KINZE MANUFACTURING —Williamsburg, IA
- $24.25 - $26.75 an hour
- Overtime
- Computer literacy
- Forklift
- Driver's License
Quick Apply
General Assembler - Small Assembly
KINZE MANUFACTURING —Williamsburg, IA
- $23.75 - $25.75 an hour
- Overtime
- Hand tools
- No travel
- Entry level
Quick Apply
Trim Production
Champion Metal Supply —Riverside, IA
- Full-time
- Forklift
- Residential
- High school diploma or GED
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
Quick Apply
3d
Material Handler
KINZE MANUFACTURING —Williamsburg, IA
- $24.25 - $26.75 an hour
- Overtime
- Computer literacy
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
- Driver's License
Quick Apply
Production Processor- 2nd shift
Farmers Creamery —Wellman, IA
- Overtime
- English
- High school diploma or GED
- Continuous improvement
Quick Apply
4d
Product Inspector Finisher (2nd and 3rd shift)
Centro, Inc —North Liberty, IA
- From $23 an hour
- Full-time
- 18 years or older
- Pass drug screening
- No experience needed
- Health savings account
- Disability insurance
P&G Oral Care Plant Technician
Procter & Gamble —Iowa City, IA
- From $26.03 an hour
- Overtime
- 18 years or older
- High school diploma or GED
- Ability to lift 50 pounds
Assembly Technician
Bazooka Farmstar —Washington, IA
- Overtime
- Forklift
- High school diploma or GED
- Power tools
Quick Apply

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Plant Operations Manager- Farmers Creamery

Farmers Creamery -
Wellman, IA

Quick Apply

Job Details

Qualifications

Food quality maintenance
Plant management
Succession planning
Operational analysis
Dairy goods production
Performance improvement leadership
7 years
Bachelor's degree in food science
Food safety management
Production data analysis
Defect resolution root cause analysis
Quality assurance experience within food and beverage industry
Food processing
Food processing plant experience
Coaching
Operations coordination planning
Operations transformation
Production safety compliance
Corrective and preventive actions (CAPA)
Performance feedback (performance evaluation method)
Metrics Reporting
Food sanitation practices
Trend analysis
Bachelor's degree in agriculture
Leadership development
Change management
Manufacturing standard operating procedures
Manufacturing facility experience
Team development
Bachelor's degree in engineering

Full Job Description

Open Gates Group, based near Kalona, IA, is a family of companies dedicated to the growth and manufacturing of local dairy products. What began as a single creamery has grown into 11 businesses that source, produce, and deliver high-quality Midwestern products to over 3,500 stores nationwide. Our unique organic milk comes from grass-fed cows on small family farms, pasteurized at the lowest legal temperature, non-homogenized, and verified regenerative through Land to Market- which means that our cows are grazed in a way that enhances the environment, rather than harming it. We’re looking for a hands-on Plant Operations Manager to lead our dairy production manufacturing efforts at Farmers Creamery.

SUMMARY

The Plant Operations Manager is a hands-on leader responsible for overseeing all daily production plant operations, while driving performance through strong leadership, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement. In partnership with operations leaders and cross-functional teams, this role fosters a safe and high-performing manufacturing environment, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality products that meet customer expectations. This position is highly visible on the production floor and requires a leader who can develop people, solve problems in real time, and translate operational data into actionable improvements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Team Development

Provide overall leadership, direction, and coordination for plant operations.
Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production teams to build a strong leadership pipeline.
Create a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous learning.
Conduct regular coaching conversations, performance feedback, and development planning.
Ensure staffing, training, and team structure support operational goals.
Promote a positive, team-oriented environment that reinforces safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Operations Management

Oversee all daily plant operations, including production and manufacturing activities.
Ensure production schedules are executed efficiently to meet customer demand and business objectives.
Monitor operations to ensure adherence to plant and corporate procedures.
Maintain high standards for safety, efficiency, and product consistency.
Increase production asset capacity and flexibility while minimizing unnecessary costs.

Food Safety & Quality

Adhere to quality work practices, follow GMPs, and maintain sanitary conditions at all times.
Ensure compliance with all food safety and regulatory requirements (GMP, HACCP, SQF, OSHA, FDA, USDA, Organic).
Reinforce a strong food safety culture across all teams.
Investigate quality or compliance issues, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.

Performance Metrics & Analytics

Develop, track, and analyze key production KPIs (e.g., yield, throughput, downtime, labor efficiency, quality metrics).
Translate operational data into insights that drive performance improvements.
Establish standards for performance and accountability across teams.
Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities using data-driven analysis.

Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

Identify and implement strategies to improve plant performance and exceed KPIs.
Lead root cause analysis and structured problem-solving initiatives.
Monitor operations to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies; implement sustainable solutions.
Drive process improvements that enhance productivity, quality, and cost efficiency.
Support and lead change initiatives, including new processes, equipment, or technologies.

Collaboration & Communication

Partner with cross-functional teams including Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, R&D, and HR.
Communicate clear expectations, goals, and performance updates across all levels of the organization.
Align operational priorities with broader business objectives.
Lead regular production meetings focused on safety, performance, and continuous improvement.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Agriculture, Engineering, Operations, or related field preferred.
7+ years of progressive leadership experience in dairy, food manufacturing, or fluid processing environments.
Strong knowledge of food safety and regulatory compliance (GMP, HACCP, SQF, OSHA, FDA, USDA).
Proven ability to lead teams, develop people, and drive operational results.
Demonstrated experience with KPI development, performance metrics, and data analysis.
Strong problem-solving skills with experience in root cause analysis and process improvement.
Excellent communication and leadership presence with the ability to influence across teams.
Highly organized with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives.

PHYSICAL & WORK ENVIRONMENT

Frequent presence on the production floor.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift as needed.
Exposure to production environments, including cold temperatures, humidity, chemicals, and moving mechanical equipment.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Strong, engaged teams with clear accountability and development pathways
Measurable improvements in key production KPIs
Reduced downtime, waste, and inefficiencies
Consistent delivery of safe, high-quality products
A culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and operational excellence

Quick Apply

Refine Your Search

manufacturing jobs in kalona, ia

Plant Operations Manager- Farmers Creamery

Bilingual Continuous Improvement Specialist

Automation Controls Specialist

Assembly Worker

Steamfitter I

Chemical Technician

Steamfitter I

Chemical Technician

Reliability Engineer

Water Distribution and Wastewater Compliance Coordinator

Electrical Systems Assembler

QA Manager

Shipping Clerk

General Assembler - Small Assembly

Trim Production

Material Handler

Production Processor- 2nd shift

Product Inspector Finisher (2nd and 3rd shift)

P&G Oral Care Plant Technician

Assembly Technician

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