Plant Manager (297680) MBA, Six Sigma / Food, Biofuels, Lighting, Packaging / Will Relo

Senior operations leader with 10+ years in manufacturing, agriculture, and industrial operations, including multi-site leadership, P&L ownership, plant turnarounds, and large-scale team development. MV has an MBA and is Six Sigma Certified.  He has a proven track record driving EBIT improvement, capacity increases, cost reduction, safety performance, and operational excellence across union and non-union environments. 

Led operations totaling $300M+ in annual revenue, managed 250+ employees, executed $8M+ in CapEx, and delivered measurable gains in OEE, throughput, uptime, and margin. Known for bridging strategy to execution and building accountable leadership teams.  He is actively looking for a new leadership role as his current employer is shutting down operations.  This Game Changer is renting and willing to relocate. Move quickly, as this talent won’t be available for long!

Bottom Line for Hiring Managers

MV is the type of leader companies bring in when they say:

• “We have good people but inconsistent results.”
• “Our plants don’t run the same way.”
• “Margins are tight and CapEx has to pay off.”
• “We need someone who can actually execute.”

He doesn’t just identify problems—he builds the systems, develops the leaders, and drives the numbers.

Industry Pain Point	How Matt Vanhoose Solves It
Underperforming Plants / Inconsistent Results Across Sites	Led 6 plants / farms simultaneously, standardized 24+ workflows, and implemented common operating systems to drive consistent performance across geographies.
Margin Pressure & Rising Costs	Delivered $1.2M+ in cost savings, reduced changeovers, controlled labor and variable costs, improved working capital, and executed disciplined P&L management.
Low OEE, Downtime, and Throughput Constraints	Improved equipment uptime through SOPs, training, and maintenance alignment—saving 175 minutes/day per site and increasing capacity without headcount growth.
Lack of Scalable Processes	Built and deployed ERP and real-time operating systems from the ground up, enabling visibility, accountability, and faster decision-making.
Safety & Compliance Risk	Ran hundreds of EHS trainings, ensured regulatory compliance, and achieved zero findings in HACCP and FDA audits in food/feed environments.
Change Resistance on the Plant Floor	Known for bridging strategy to execution—hands-on leader who builds buy-in through clear metrics, visual systems, and frontline engagement.
Capital Misallocation or Delayed Projects	Planned and executed $8M+ in CapEx projects in one year, including equipment startups and automation initiatives tied to ROI.
Talent Gaps & Weak Leadership Bench	Built and coached leadership teams across union and non-union sites; managed 250+ employees while reducing turnover and improving accountability.
Inconsistent Quality & Customer Complaints	Eliminated quality issues through Lean, Six Sigma, corrective action systems, and strong cross-functional launch discipline.
Poor Visibility Into Performance Metrics	Established KPI-driven management systems, real-time reporting, and consistent communication of goals at all organizational levels.
Growth Without Operational Readiness	Scaled operations in agriculture, manufacturing, and biofuels by aligning processes, people, land/assets, and capital before expansion.
Leadership That’s Too Tactical or Too Strategic	Combines MBA-level business acumen with shop-floor credibility—trusted by executives and respected by frontline teams.

Accomplishments

• Led 6 farms across 7,000 acres producing $85M annually.
• Directed 150+ seasonal employees and 6 site leaders across multiple states and Argentina.
• Standardized 24 core workflows, improving planning and execution consistency.
• Designed and implemented ERP and real-time operating systems.
• Improved equipment uptime, saving 175 minutes per day per site through SOP and training enhancements.
• Role required 95% travel, recruited into Head of Operations role.
• Lead multi-site operations for renewable biofuel feedstock production.
• Developed scalable operating procedures supporting growth across reclaimed mine lands.
• Partner with executive leadership on long-term strategy, expansion, and capital planning.
• Manage budgets, land acquisition strategy, and stakeholder partnerships.
• Drive innovation in sustainable energy crop production with a rural-development focus.
• Full P&L responsibility for multi-shift food/feed manufacturing facility.

• Implemented 20+ cost-control systems across labor, materials, and operating expenses.
• Delivered zero findings in HACCP and FDA audits.
• Led startup of $1.8M packaging equipment.
• Coordinated 30+ maintenance and facility improvement initiatives.
• Oversaw 6 manufacturing plants, $220M revenue, 250+ indirect employees.Increased output by 30,000 tons through changeover reduction and CI initiatives.
• Executed $8M in capital projects in a single year.
• Delivered $1.2M in ACI cost savings.
• Led safety, compliance, and operational excellence across all sites.
• Implemented 5S, Lean, Kaizen, and QRQC methodologies.
• Promoted internally due to performance and leadership.

Education & Certifications

• MBA – American Military University
• BS, Management – American Military University
• Lean Certified
• Six Sigma Yellow Belt