Plant Manager Jobs in Iowa

Plant Manager jobs in Iowa concentrate in food and beverage processing, agricultural manufacturing, and industrial equipment production, with demand at every level from shift supervisor promotions to senior operations leadership. The busiest hiring markets are Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport, where established manufacturers such as John Deere, Quaker Oats, and Tyson Foods maintain large production operations. The most in-demand specialties are continuous improvement leadership, food safety compliance, and lean manufacturing. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles22
Top employer3M
Top cityWaterloo, IA
Cities hiring18
Top industryConstruction
Companies hiring22

Showing 5 of 22+ Plant Manager jobs

Image Associates Inc.
Plant Manager
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Image Associates Inc.
Added 1d ago
Plant Manager
Image Associates Inc.
Waterloo, Iowa
Logistics & Inventory
Supply Chain
Warehouse Operations

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The Lauridsen Group
Plant Manager - APC
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The Lauridsen Group
Added 5d ago
Plant Manager - APC
The Lauridsen Group
Boone, Iowa
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
Bachelor's degree in business

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Amcor
Plant General Manager
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Amcor
Added 6d ago
Plant General Manager
Amcor
Des Moines, Iowa
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
Six Sigma Certification
10,000+

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ADM
Corn Wet Milling Technology Manager (Illinois OR Iowa Plant location)
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ADM
Added 6d ago
Corn Wet Milling Technology Manager (Illinois OR Iowa Plant location)
ADM
Clinton, Iowa
Customer Service
Customer Support
$102k - $180k/yr
Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering
10,000+

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Perdue
Plant Manager
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Perdue
Added 1w ago
Plant Manager
Perdue
Sioux City, Iowa
Business Operations
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Project Management
High school diploma or GED
10,000+

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See All 22 Plant Manager Jobs in Iowa

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Plant Manager Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Waterloo
3 jobs
Clinton
2 jobs
Sioux City
2 jobs
Boone
1 job
Onawa
1 job
DeWitt
1 job
Tipton
1 job
Altoona
1 job
Hampton
1 job

Plant Manager Job Market in Iowa

A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

3M
3M1 open role
ADM
ADM1 open role
Amcor
Amcor1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Construction & Real Estate

What Iowa Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in plant manager jobs across Iowa.

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations management, or a related field
  • Five or more years of progressive supervisory experience in a manufacturing or production environment
  • Demonstrated experience implementing lean manufacturing or Six Sigma process improvements
  • Familiarity with OSHA safety regulations and Iowa workplace safety compliance requirements
  • Proficiency managing production scheduling, budgeting, and key performance indicator reporting
  • Strong experience coordinating cross-functional teams including maintenance, quality, and supply chain

Plant Manager Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a plant manager in Iowa?

Most plant manager roles in Iowa require a bachelor's degree in engineering, manufacturing, or operations management paired with progressive supervisory experience on the production floor. Iowa does not require a state-issued license specific to plant managers, but credentials such as a Certified Production and Inventory Management designation or a Six Sigma certification strengthen candidacy significantly. Large Iowa manufacturers in food processing and agricultural equipment typically promote from within, so starting as a production supervisor or operations coordinator at an Iowa facility is the most common path.

How much do plant managers make in Iowa?

Plant managers in Iowa earn a median of about $106,510 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $74,830 for the lowest 10% to over $171,910 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire plant managers in Iowa?

Companies currently hiring plant managers in Iowa include 3M, ADM, and Amcor, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Iowa's strong food processing and agricultural equipment sectors mean that manufacturing-focused employers across the state generate consistent plant manager openings throughout the year.

Which Iowa cities have the most plant manager jobs?

Waterloo, Clinton, and Sioux City have the most plant manager openings in Iowa. Des Moines anchors the market through its concentration of food production and consumer goods facilities, while Cedar Rapids draws demand from grain processing and industrial manufacturing, and Davenport benefits from its position in the Quad Cities manufacturing corridor with ties to heavy equipment and metal fabrication employers.

How can I get hired as a plant manager in Iowa with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a production supervisor or shift lead role at one of Iowa's major food processing or agricultural manufacturing facilities, where internal promotion to plant manager is common. Employers such as large meat processing operations in Waterloo and grain handling facilities in Cedar Rapids regularly hire production associates and team leads from whom they develop future managers. Earning a lean manufacturing or quality management credential from an Iowa community college program, such as those offered through Kirkwood Community College, gives candidates a measurable edge when competing for that first supervisory step.

Where can I find and apply to plant manager jobs in Iowa?

You can find and apply to plant manager jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from employers across the state. Search the roles listed on this page, identify the ones that fit your experience and location, and apply directly to the employers that match what you're looking for.

See All 22 Plant Manager Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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