KLR Executive Search Group is proud to partner with Willow Tree Poultry Farm (“Willow Tree” www.willowtreefarm.com) to recruit their new Plant Manager. Willow Tree’s story began in Attleboro, Massachusetts, as a humble poultry and egg farm named for the willow trees that lined its fields. In the 1950s, Chet and Eileen Cekala purchased the farm, building a family business rooted in hard work and community. As poultry farming declined, Chet introduced a recipe that would become a tradition—their signature chicken pies, beloved since the 1960s. In the 1980s, the family expanded with its now-famous chicken salad, a recipe that quickly became a staple in homes and delis across New England. Today, Willow Tree remains family-driven, committed to quality and care, with products enjoyed in thousands of stores along the East Coast.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the General Manager and working alongside a QC/QA/Food Safety Manager, the new Plant Manager will demonstrate a commitment to frequent on-the-floor work and a roll-up-their-sleeves mentality. The Plant Manager will enjoy Willow Tree’s family-oriented environment and its emphasis on flexibility and understanding. Willow Tree has a long-tenured staff (some with 20+ years’ experience). The Company’s culture is close-knit, loyal, and supportive.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for plant operations, including production, planning, staffing, purchasing, maintenance, warehousing, logistics, and sanitation.
• Own and manage the facility operating budget, ensuring financial discipline, cost control, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, throughput optimization, and production line development.
• Establish and sustain scalable operational processes that support growth while maintaining safety, quality, and compliance standards.
• Partner cross-functionally to align plant performance with broader business objectives.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience working closely with Quality functions, either through direct oversight or in a structure where Quality reported into the role.
• Demonstrated success leading operations during periods of growth or within large and/or complex organizations.
• Strong background in implementing structured operating systems, including data collection, performance measurement, and KPI-driven decision-making.
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to balance strategic oversight and day-to-day execution.
• Relevant experience across key product categories, including prepared foods, ready-to-eat (RTE) items, deli products, soups, deli salads, and commissary operations; consumer-facing products strongly preferred over foodservice.
• Working knowledge of, and compliance experience with, key regulatory and food safety frameworks, including USDA, SQF, and HACCP.

Pay Range: The salary range for this position is $140 – $160K and does not include benefits and bonus potential (~10%). Compensation is determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to the role, function, and associated responsibilities, as well as a candidate’s work experience, education, knowledge, skills, and geographic location.