PLM & Product Data Manager

Position Summary

The PLM & Product Data Manager owns Miniat’s Product Lifecycle Management platform, currently Infor PLM for Process (Optiva),, and the standards used to manage product data. This role improves product information, specifications, workflows, change control, and PLM adoption across both business units, Miniat Meats and South Chicago Packing. The Manager also leads the Regulatory Specialist and provides senior review for complex labeling, nutrition, ingredient, claims, and specification matters.

Primary Responsibilities

PLM & Product Data Ownership

• Own the PLM platform, product-data standards, governance, roles, access, workflows, and improvement roadmap.
• Partner with Information Technology and system providers on configuration, testing, releases, support, security, integrations, and reporting.
• Set standards for formulas, specifications, ingredients, allergens, nutrition data, labels, claims, packaging, certifications, approvals, and product records.
• Improve data quality through required fields, business rules, exception reporting, periodic reviews, and corrective action and create accountability within the organization for other users that enter data into the Optiva or designated PLM tool
• Lead cleanup of incomplete, duplicate, outdated, or unclear product records.

Process, Commercialization & Change Control

• Design and improve PLM workflows for product setup, development, approvals, commercialization, changes, obsolescence, and record retention.
• Define required information, approvals, handoffs, service expectations, and completion standards.
• Partner with Growth & Innovation, FSRA, Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations, Sales, Customer Service, and other teams to support timely product decisions and launches.
• Resolve recurring process, ownership, system, and data issues that cause delay, rework, or compliance risk.
• Maintain practical procedures, work instructions, process maps, training, and user guidance.

Regulatory Product Information

• Serve as the escalation point for complex product labeling, ingredient, allergen, nutrition, claims, specification, and approval matters.
• Translate applicable USDA, FDA, customer, state, and certification requirements into clear product-data standards and controls.
• Set review standards and approve higher-risk or escalated work within assigned authority.
• Support customer, certification, third-party, and regulatory audits related to product information and records.

Leadership, Reporting & Improvement

• Lead and develop the Regulatory Specialist; set priorities, quality standards, workload expectations, and escalation practices.
• Delegate defined regulatory work while retaining appropriate review and approval accountability.
• Track data quality, workflow aging, cycle time, first-pass quality, rework, adoption, and issue resolution.
• Prioritize improvements based on business value, risk, customer needs, and available resources.
• Build user capability through training, tools, and clear accountability.

Success Measures

• Accurate, complete, consistent, and traceable product data and specifications.
• Reliable PLM adoption, workflow performance, and use of the system of record.
• Fewer incomplete records, duplicate data, aged work, recurring defects, and avoidable rework.
• Timely product-information and regulatory support for commercialization, customers, and audits.
• Effective delivery of PLM priorities and development of the Regulatory Specialist.

Supervisory / Management Responsibilities

This role has no direct reports. The position provides functional leadership to PLM users, process owners, project teams, and external providers. Responsibilities include hiring, onboarding, goal setting, coaching, performance feedback, development, workload management, and consistent use of approved standards and controls.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Regulatory Affairs, Information Systems, Data Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• 7 or more years of progressive experience in PLM, product data, specifications, regulatory affairs, labeling, commercialization, quality systems, or a related function in a USDA- or FDA-regulated environment.
• Experience leading PLM, specification, master-data, workflow, governance, system implementation, data cleanup, or process-improvement work.
• Experience with product specifications, formulas, ingredients, nutrition information, labels, claims, approvals, or related technical records.
• Working knowledge of food labeling, ingredient requirements, standards of identity, claims support, and product-data governance.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or providing sustained technical leadership.
• Strong communication, facilitation, analytical, project-management, and cross-functional influence skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and experience with PLM, specification, ERP, workflow, or reporting systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Infor PLM (Optiva) or a similar formulation, specification, or PLM platform.
• Experience in food or protein manufacturing, ingredients, oils, consumer packaged goods, or a multi-site regulated business.
• Experience with USDA label approvals, nutrition tools, customer portals, product certifications, packaging compliance, or supplier documentation.
• Training or certification in project management, change management, process improvement, data governance, or a related discipline.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

PLM & Data Leadership: Sets practical strategy, standards, ownership, controls, and priorities.

Systems & Process Design: Turns business needs into clear workflows, roles, configuration, and documentation.

Regulatory Judgment: Applies sound judgment to labels, ingredients, nutrition, claims, specifications, and approvals.

Collaboration & Change Leadership: Builds cross-functional alignment, user capability, adoption, and accountability.

Execution & Communication: Organizes work, solves problems, and explains complex information clearly.

People Leadership & Integrity: Develops employees, applies standards consistently, and protects confidential information.

Leadership Expectations

Models Miniat’s values by serving customers and colleagues, making sound decisions, building for the future, taking pride in the work, and leading a team that plays to win.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in an office environment and requires regular computer use, communication, data review, document comparison, system testing, meetings, and training. Occasional work in manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory, or product-development areas and occasional business travel may be required. These environments may include temperature variation, noise, wet surfaces, sanitation controls, and required personal protective equipment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered consistent with applicable requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Job Description Notice

Miniat is committed to equal employment opportunities and reasonable accommodations consistent with applicable law and Company policy. This description summarizes the general nature and level of work and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Responsibilities may change based on business needs.

Benefits for this role include: Medical, vision, dental, discretionary bonus up to 15% (50% personal performance based & 50% company performance), 401(k) with matching up to a max of 4% and 120 hours PTO in the 1st 12 months.