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Plant Manager

Land O'Lakes · Chilton, WI · $107,680–$161,520 a year · Full time

Posted Jul 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you turned around a plant's safety performance.

What they are checking: Whether they have made safety a real value at a site, not just a reported number.

Tell me about a time you led a plant through a major change that people resisted.

What they are checking: Whether they can act as a change agent who inspires people instead of forcing compliance.

How do you develop strong leaders at every level of a plant?

What they are checking: Whether they build a leadership bench rather than making every decision themselves.

Tell me about a hard performance conversation with a direct report.

What they are checking: Whether they coach and hold leaders accountable with clarity and respect.

What would you do

You'll lead the Operations Manager, QA and Safety Supervisor, Maintenance Supervisor and office staff in Chilton. How would you spend your first 90 days?

What they are checking: Whether they listen and learn before making changes and have a clear plan to build trust.

The plant is running over budget halfway through the year. What do you look at first?

What they are checking: Whether they can find the real cost drivers and act without hurting safety or quality.

A key customer complains about a quality issue. How do you respond and what do you change in the plant?

What they are checking: Whether they take ownership with customers and drive real corrective action.

How would you stay connected with people on every shift, not just day shift?

What they are checking: Whether they lead visibly across the whole plant, including off shifts.

About the work

How do you decide which capital projects to request and how do you keep them on time and on budget?

What they are checking: Whether they can manage capital spending and partner with maintenance on project delivery.

What plant metrics do you watch every day, and why those?

What they are checking: Whether they use the right measures to run safety, quality, cost and output.

How do you make sure the plant has the materials, equipment and supplies it needs every day?

What they are checking: Whether they understand planning and supply so production is not stopped by shortages.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Land O'Lakes from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Land O'Lakes.

Plant Manager The Plant Manager is responsible to oversee all aspects of the operation within the Chilton, WI facility. This position manages the daily activities of the plant and is responsible for the proper execution of all tasks associated with human safety, product quality and plant operations. The position will manage the plant costs to ensure spend is in alignment with set budget. Primary Responsibilities: • Provide leadership to the overall operation, including Operations Manager, QA/Safety Supervisor, Maintenance Supervisor and Office personnel. • Coach and manage performance of all direct reports and entire plant team. • Be a change agent for the facility by influencing and inspiring all team members. • Ensure materials, equipment, and supplies that are needed to perform daily production are in place. • Manage the plant budget and communicate concerns when these are present. • Work with internal and external customers to ensure the plant is meeting set expectations. • Ensure that human safety is a core value for all team members by promoting a safe work environment and safe work practices. • Develop talent within the plant to ensure strong leadership is present at all levels. • Manage all plant capital spend by working closely with maintenance supervision and submitting all capital requests and making sure that all projects are completed on time and within the authorized dollar amount. • Seek out cost savings initiatives and take action to ensure the plant is best serving the overall company. • Support product quality improvements by ensuring all EQMS requirements are in place. • In cooperation with Human Resources maintain strong employee relations. • Drive continuous improvement efforts via process improvement teams within the plant. • Create team engagement to find and resolve production limiters. Required Experience/Education: • Bachelor's degree and 5+ years leadership experience OR High School Diploma/GED and 8+ years leadership experience • ​Strong leadership skills and strategic planning skills. • Must be respected by peers, co-workers, vendors, and internal and external customers. • Must have strong customer relations skills in working with both internal and external customers. • Requires proven and demonstrated project management capabilities and the ability to diagnose operational inefficiencies. • Assignments will be broad in nature and require originality and ability to navigate complex problems and issues and utilize others to find resolution. Salary: $107,680 - $161,520 In most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges About Land O'Lakes, Inc. Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list. We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root. Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices. Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested. If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.

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