Vice President of Manufacturing

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field. Advanced degree preferred. 15+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing, including significant plant-level ownership. Prior experience in new facility start-ups or major plant expansions. Extensive experience in Food & Beverage, or Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturing. Proven track record of driving operational excellence through lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other structured CI systems. Demonstrated success leading large teams in high-speed, high-volume environments. Strong financial and business acumen with an ability to translate operational strategies into measurable outcomes. Overview: As the senior manufacturing leader for a brand-new, large-scale production facility, the Vice President of Manufacturing will play a pivotal role in launching and scaling operations. This hands-on executive will provide strategic leadership, establish operational systems from the ground up, and guide the plant through start-up into full-scale production. The role demands a proven leader with a deep background in large plant operations, startup environments, and continuous improvement methodologies. Key Responsibilities: Strategic & Operational Leadership Define and execute the plant’s manufacturing strategy in alignment with company goals. Lead all aspects of production, planning, and performance across safety, quality, cost, and delivery metrics. Champion operational readiness, ensuring that infrastructure, people, and systems are in place for a successful launch. Start-Up & Scaling Execution Direct plant commissioning and start-up efforts, including hiring, training, SOP development, and line validation. Partner with cross-functional teams (engineering, supply chain, quality, finance, HR) to ensure seamless execution of the start-up roadmap. Drive speed to performance while building a foundation for long-term scalability and efficiency. Team Development & Culture Building Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team of manufacturing directors, managers, supervisors, and front-line employees. Create a plant culture centered around safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and empowerment. Lead with authenticity and integrity, setting clear expectations and fostering collaborative leadership at all levels. Continuous Improvement & Lean Execution Identify and implement best practices and lean manufacturing principles to drive efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality. Promote a data-driven environment using KPIs to measure performance and inform decisions. Lead CI projects focused on throughput, reliability, and cost control. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with Supply Chain and Sales & Operations Planning to ensure capacity aligns with demand. Partner with Quality Assurance to establish rigorous standards and ensure all regulatory and food safety compliance. Serve as the plant’s executive liaison with corporate leadership on performance, initiatives, and alignment.

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