Plant Manager – Liquid Manufacturing
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Onawa, IA
- Work setup
- Onsite
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Full time
- Experience
- 1+ years
- Category
- Manufacturing
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- • Bachelor's degree preferred (Engineering, Chemistry, Operations Management, or related field); equivalent experience considered.
- • At least 7 years of experience successfully leading a team, ideally in a regulated or process manufacturing environment.
- • Experience in a liquid manufacturing, blending, or process industry environment (agricultural inputs, chemicals, or related) strongly preferred.
- • Strong mechanical/process aptitude and working knowledge of cost accounting concepts (COGS, gross margin, conversion cost, variance analysis).
- • Intermediate-to-advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel); ERP experience (Acumatica or similar) preferred.
- • Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a constantly changing environment with minimal direct supervision.
- • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including presenting ideas, proposals, and results to management and customers.
Nice to have
- • LEAN or Six Sigma background and training.
- • Experience with preventive/predictive maintenance programs and CMMS systems (e.g., Maintenance Connection).
- • Understanding of capital expenditures, business case development, and ROI tracking.
- Physical Demands & Work Environment
- • Regularly required to stand, walk, and move throughout the production floor for extended periods.
- • Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
- • Exposure to moving mechanical parts, chemical/raw-material handling, and varying temperature and noise levels typical of a liquid blending and filling environment.
- • Required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as designated by site safety policy.
- • Some travel between company facilities may be required.
- Compensation & Benefits
- Compensation: Commensurate with experience. Horizon Ag Products offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical/dental/vision, 401(k), and paid time off benefits.
- Horizon Ag Products is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
- Horizon Ag Products will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.
Full description
Plant Manager – Liquid ManufacturingDepartment: Operations
Location: Onawa, Iowa
Reports To: Liquid Operations Manager
FLSA Status: Exempt (Salaried)
Employment Type: Full Time
Direct Reports: Up to 15 employees (production, blending/filling, and maintenance staff)
About us
Since 1983, Horizon Ag-Products has led the emerging biostimulant industry, manufacturing soluble humus products that support plant and soil health. Based in Lakewood, Colorado, we employ about 135 people across six manufacturing plants and several surface mines nationwide, and we are proud to make the best products in our industry. We build trusted, lasting relationships with growers through science-driven solutions, and we hold ourselves to values of integrity, stewardship, innovation, respect, and accountability. We work hard, look out for one another, and stay true to the mission and values outlined at .
Position Summary
Horizon Ag is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to lead our liquid manufacturing facility in Onawa, Iowa. Reporting to the Liquid Operations Manager, the Plant Manager holds full site-level accountability for safety, environmental compliance, quality, production, cost, reliability, and people – running the facility as a business rather than simply a production line. The role covers the full liquid manufacturing process, from raw material receipt and blending through filling, packaging, and shipment, and leads a team of up to 15 employees. The successful candidate will build a plant that performs reliably and predictably, meeting or exceeding safety, quality, delivery, and financial targets through disciplined daily management and strong, hands-on leadership.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The Plant Manager performs the following duties personally or through subordinate supervisors, including but not limited to:
Safety, Environmental & Quality
- Enforce all Environmental, Health, Safety, Security and Quality (EHSSQ) programs and build a culture where safe execution is non-negotiable, targeting zero serious incidents through active management of leading indicators (near misses, critical-control effectiveness).
- Operate the site continuously within all environmental permits (emissions, waste, water, process discharge), anticipating risk to achieve zero preventable violations.
- Own manufacturing quality outcomes rather than delegating them to the Quality function – specifications, process capability, deviations, and customer-impacting defects – driving a right-first-time culture that eliminates chronic defects.