Job Summary
As the Director of Operations, you will maximize efficiency and drive continuous improvement at a fast-paced fresh food manufacturing facility. This role owns the employee life cycle, production, quality, food safety compliance, process improvement, and client satisfaction related to operations, while communicating and supporting company vision and goals. You will maintain the highest standards of legislative and compliance requirements, provide site oversight, direction, training, and motivation to team members, and ensure quality specifications, health and safety standards, and preventive maintenance of machinery, chemicals, tools, and sanitation, with proper documentation. You will direct a team of Managers and Supervisors to achieve goals and targets, overseeing production, maintenance, buyers, warehouse, transportation, and sanitation operations across multiple shifts to ensure efficient, timely manufacture of quality products.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a team of Managers and Supervisors, setting expectations that put the company's mission and core values into practice and fostering a success-oriented, accountable environment.
- Own site business outcomes through strategic and operational planning, P&L management, compliance, and support services for the manufacturing site.
- Coach and develop the team to understand root causes of poor KPI delivery and performance, implementing Process Control methods and reporting — including daily huddles and start-up/process reviews — to consistently sustain and improve KPIs, results, and process control guidelines.
- Drive culinary excellence, continuous improvement, safety, and production optimization to meet budget targets and stakeholder expectations.
- Manage site contractors and agency obligations for compliance and completion to specifications.
- Ensure all food safety, USDA, HACCP, GMP, and QA-related activities comply with local, state, and federal regulations; promote team member food safety and GMP compliance.
- Lead initiatives and employee engagement to foster a safe, collaborative, team-oriented culture.
- Supervise, plan, organize, and direct production activities and employee placement, training, and development. Schedule staff based on production demand, working closely with the Operations Manager to meet efficiency, hours, and safety goals.
- Ensure all scheduled product trials are performed; actively participate and help the team plan the most effective way to launch new products.
- Maintain sufficient inventory of raw product and packaging to meet production needs; ensure the team rotates stock as required.
- Ensure all equipment is in safe operating condition, address issues, complete work orders in a timely manner, and ensure the team understands SOPs for equipment in their area.
- Demonstrate strong leadership: coach employees for improvement, evaluate performance and skills, schedule training, and prepare and deliver disciplinary actions or discharge recommendations as needed, while building trust and diffusing conflict.
- Promote a safety culture, ensure timely reporting of injuries or near-miss accidents, and take immediate corrective action when witnessing an unsafe practice.
- Perform other duties as needed.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Food Safety, Culinary Arts, Procurement/Buying, or a related field, and/or 5+ years of equivalent food safety/production management experience.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience in a production supervisor or management role, preferably in a chilled food manufacturing environment within a fast-paced business.
- Certification in HACCP or Food Handling preferred, with 1+ year of experience applying HACCP and enforcing routine Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) in a food environment essential.
- Ability to apply common math formulas in all units of measure for reporting.
- Experience working in a food manufacturing environment applying common processes, procedures, and equipment, or produce/fruit related operational experience, with a good understanding of produce seasonality.
- Experience working in a continuous improvement environment with demonstrated delivery through change.
- Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Excel, and excellent analytical skills.
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
- Excellent communicator, verbally and in writing.
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability and initiative to multi-task throughout the day.
- Good understanding of continuous improvement production techniques.
- Knowledge of large-scale food business start-up is helpful.
- Demonstrated ability to be a team player.
- Trained in OSHA requirements and expectations.
- Good understanding of English required; bilingual (Spanish) skills are helpful.
Work Demands / Physical Demands
This role is primarily based in a chilled factory or warehouse environment involving prolonged standing and walking, including routine and repetitive processes. Regularly required to stand, walk, reach, grab, carry items, talk, or hear, with frequent use of hands to finger, handle, lift, or feel, and regular exposure to chilled, damp temperatures. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social, or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental, or sensory disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union, or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.