Director of Operations

We are representing a leading food manufacturing company dedicated to delivering high-quality, safe, and innovative products to it's customers. With a strong focus on sustainability, compliance, and continuous improvement, we are expanding our leadership team to support our next phase of growth.

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Operations to oversee our manufacturing facility operations, drive operational excellence, and ensure optimal efficiency across production, quality, safety, logistics, and supply chain functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all day-to-day operations of the manufacturing facility, ensuring production targets, quality standards, safety regulations, and cost objectives are met.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to improve productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
• Oversee production planning, materials management, scheduling, maintenance, and quality assurance teams.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, OSHA, GMP, HACCP, and other relevant food safety and regulatory standards.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other methodologies.
• Collaborate closely with R&D, Quality, Sales, and Supply Chain teams to align production with market demand and innovation.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.
• Manage operational budgets, capital expenditures, and cost control measures.
• Lead, mentor, and develop plant leadership and staff, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Ensure safety standards and a strong food safety culture are maintained across all operations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, with at least 5 years in a senior operations role.
• Proven experience managing plant operations in a regulated food production environment.
• Strong understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement tools.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and team development skills.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Knowledge of ERP systems and manufacturing technology platforms.