note/ this position will be based in Baghdad -iraq/ apply only if you are willing to relocate
Plant Manager Key Qualifications & Experience
Location: Baghdad, Iraq Abu Ghraib
Industry: Food Manufacturing / FMCG
Function: Factory Operations & Management
Educational Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in one of the following:
- Food Science / Food Technology
- Industrial or Mechanical Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering (relevant to potato processing)
- Preferred: MBA or postgraduate diploma in Operations/Industrial Management
Professional Experience:
- 10+ years of experience in food manufacturing or FMCG, with at least:
- 5 years in a senior leadership/operations role
- 57 years specifically in snack food or potato chips production
- Start-up experience: Strongly preferred experience in setting up a new plant or production line from scratch
- Middle East or developing market experience is advantageous, especially with knowledge of local supply chain dynamics and labour management
Technical Knowledge:
- Deep familiarity with:
- Potato washing, slicing, frying, and flavouring machines
- Packaging machinery (vertical form-fill-seal, nitrogen flushing, etc.)
- Production line automation (SCADA, PLCs)
- Knowledge of raw material handling, oil management, and seasoning control
- Understanding of potato varieties suitable for chips production and storage
Quality & Compliance:
- Expertise in:
- Food safety systems: HACCP, ISO 22000, GMP
- Iraq's food safety and regulatory standards (e.g., Iraqi Ministry of Health & Environment)
- Experience managing audits, traceability, and product recalls
Operations & Leadership:
- Ability to:
- Set up SOPs and production workflows
- Hire, train, and lead factory staff
- Manage procurement, local vendor relationships, and logistics
- Control costs and improve efficiency (Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, etc.)
Soft Skills:
- Strong leadership and communication, especially for building and motivating a local team
- Fluency in Arabic required; English proficiency strongly preferred
- Capable of working under pressure and solving operational issues quickly
- Culturally aware and capable of navigating the Iraqi business landscape
Additional Experience:
- Involvement in factory construction, layout design, and equipment installation
- Relationships with regional suppliers (potatoes, packaging materials, flavouring agents)
- Knowledge of environmental standards and waste management
