Senior Operations Manager

Are you a proven manufacturing leader with a passion for driving safety, quality, operational excellence, and team development? Our client, a growing food manufacturing organization, is seeking an experienced Operations Leader to oversee production operations within a high-volume facility. This role offers the opportunity to lead a large manufacturing team, develop future leaders, and make a significant impact on plant performance.

Operations Leader | Food Manufacturing

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations with a focus on safety, quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
• Drive operational performance across multiple departments, including production, maintenance, sanitation, quality, and warehousing.
• Develop, coach, and mentor managers, supervisors, and frontline teams to build a high-performing culture.
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to safety, quality, labor, efficiency, yields, and overall plant performance.
• Manage labor planning, staffing, production schedules, and departmental budgets.
• Partner cross-functionally to identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency and reduce waste.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, employee engagement, and operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, regulatory, and company standards.
• Support capital projects, equipment improvements, and process optimization initiatives.
• Stay informed of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices that support plant performance.

What We're Looking For

• 6+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Background in food, beverage, dairy, bakery, protein, pet food, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.
• Proven success leading large teams in fast-paced, multi-shift manufacturing environments.
• Strong experience with food safety, quality systems, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to improve productivity, reduce costs, develop teams, and drive measurable business results.
• Experience managing budgets, workforce planning, production scheduling, and performance metrics.
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent manufacturing leadership experience preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Production Manager, Operations Manager, Manufacturing Manager, Plant Superintendent, or Assistant Plant Manager.
• Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, or Total Process Control experience.
• Experience leading change initiatives and developing future operational leaders.