Plant Manager, Baking - Three Dog Brands

Position Title: Plant Manager, Baking

Reporting To: Vice President, Operations

Key Relationships: Production Team, Maintenance & Engineering, QA, Supply Chain & Procurement, Innovation team, VP of Finance

Location: Kansas City, MO

The Company: Leading manufactuerer and marketer of branded, humanized dog treats

Company Profile
Three Dog Bakery’s story started in 1986 when Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff adopted a deaf Great Dane puppy named Gracie. She was under weight and would not eat highly processed dog foods and treats, so Dan and Mark began baking dog treats in their kitchen – using only fresh, human grade ingredients – and Gracie’s health began to improve.  Soon they were making more dog treats for friends and family.  Realizing they had something special, Dan and Mark opened the first dog treat bakery shop in 1989 in Kansas City.  They called it Three Dog Bakery because Gracie was one of their three dogs.

While Three Dog Bakery started as a retail business, the more significant business is a line of shelf-stable baked dog treats made with 100% human grade ingredients sold in FDM and is known as the truly “humanized treats”.  The treats resemble human baked goods such as Oreo and Nutter Butter in both form and packaging format (resealable flaps). The freshly baked aromas and soft textures appeal to both the pet owner and the pet.  The wholesale business started in 2003 when the Company entered local grocery chains with a small line, and it took off when Walmart stocked the brand in 2007.  

Today the CPG business has revenue of approximately $55 million through 50+ customers, with healthy topline growth and profitability.  TDB sells through mass merchants (Walmart, Target, etc.), grocery chains (Publix, Kroger, etc.), and farm stores (Tractor Supply, etc.).  TDB also sells online through Amazon and Chewy, and the company is expanding in the pet specialty channel. TDB produces approximately half its products at its manufacturing facility and utilizes a co-manufacturing network for the remaining 50 percent.

Topspin Consumer Partners has acquired the wholesale consumer products part of Three Dog Bakery (a carve out), along with control of the brand name and trademarks. Topspin is a Mamaroneck, NY-based private equity firm that makes investments in established, profitable, and fast-growing middle-market consumer businesses. The firm invests in several sub-verticals within consumer, including health & wellness, personal care/beauty, food/beverage, household goods, pet, and children's products. The team has considerable operational expertise and collaborates with founder-owners and management teams to build businesses of varying stages and sizes.

For more information on Three Dog Bakery and its products, visit https://threedog.com. For more information on Topspin Consumer Partners, visit topspincp.com.

Position Scope:

The Plant Manager will lead all operational activities at our Baking manufacturing facility, producing premium, high-quality pet treats. This role is critical in scaling operations to meet the demands of a fast-growing, private-equity-backed business while maintaining a strong focus on product quality, safety, and efficiency. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in food-grade manufacturing, a passion for pets, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, high-growth environment.

We are looking for a hands-on, collaborative leader who thrives on working alongside their team, fostering a culture of open communication and mutual respect. This individual must set the tone by leading with integrity, prioritizing safety and quality above all else, and inspiring a team committed to excellence. The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in food-grade manufacturing, a passion for pets, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, high-growth environment.

This position is a key leadership role to drive operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Operations Leadership

• Actively lead and participate in all production, packaging, and shipping operations to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality pet treats.
• Work directly with the team to identify challenges, implement solutions, and drive operational improvements, setting a hands-on example.
• Implement and scale production processes to meet rapid growth and demand while maintaining uncompromising quality and safety standards.
• Collaborate with R&D and marketing teams to effectively and efficiently commercialize new products.

Pet Treat-Specific Quality Standards

• Ensure compliance with AAFCO standards, FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act), HACCP, and BRC (British Retail Consortium) certification requirements.
• Collaborate on the development and implementation of quality assurance processes, with a strong focus on ingredient integrity, traceability, and premium product positioning.
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Procurement to manage vendor relationships for key raw materials, ensuring consistency and quality of animal protein, plant-based ingredients, and other components unique to the pet treats category.

Safety & Compliance

• Foster a safety-first culture where every team member is empowered to prioritize safety and report potential risks without hesitation.
• Conduct routine audits and implement immediate corrective actions for any deviations in safety or quality.
• Ensure all processes align with OSHA and FDA regulatory standards for pet food manufacturing.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement initiatives to optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and maintain product quality.
• Introduce automation or advanced manufacturing technologies where applicable to enhance scalability.
• Monitor industry trends and innovations in the pet food and treats sector to ensure competitive differentiation.

Financial Accountability

• Develop and manage the plant’s budget, including labor, raw materials, and operational expenses.
• Track and report KPIs such as yield, cost per unit, labor efficiency, and material usage to senior leadership.
• Lead cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality or brand integrity.

Team Building & Development

• Lead by example, fostering a collaborative, supportive, and growth-oriented culture within the plant.
• Recruit, train, and develop team members, ensuring a pipeline of talent to support future growth.
• Build cross-functional relationships to enhance communication, alignment, and team success.

Private Equity & Growth Focus

• Deliver operational excellence aligned with aggressive growth targets in a fast-paced PE environment.
• Partner with leadership to develop and execute capacity-expansion strategies, including new equipment, facility upgrades, or additional sites.
• Ensure cost-effectiveness while driving top-tier performance metrics to meet investor expectations.

Required Experiences:

• 7-10 years of plant management experience in food, baking or pet food manufacturing, with a strong understanding of premium, high-growth brands.
• Experience working in a private equity-backed business and scaling operations to meet aggressive growth targets.

Required Demonstrated Competencies:

• Expertise in pet food regulatory compliance (AAFCO, FSMA, HACCP, BRC) and industry best practices.
• Proven leadership in high-growth environments, with a focus on developing scalable processes.
• Hands-on, collaborative leadership style that inspires and empowers teams.
• Building High Performance Teams. Builds capability within function and partners effectively across functions.  Places organization ahead of ego.
• Proven track record of prioritizing safety and quality without compromise.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, with a bias for action.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, NetSuite) and familiarity with leveraging data to improve operations.
• Passion for pets and a commitment to producing safe, nutritious, and high-quality treats for the industry’s most discerning pet parents.

OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers and seek diversity in candidates for employment. EEO Employer W/M/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.