The Senior Manufacturing Packaging Manager is responsible for leading and transforming all packaging operations within a fast-paced food production environment, ensuring safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement across packaging lines and processes. This role will provide strategic and hands-on leadership during a critical period of organizational growth and transformation, driving operational excellence while building strong, high-performing teams.
The ideal candidate brings a strong food packaging background combined with engineering-based problem-solving capabilities, operational leadership, and the ability to lead through change. This individual must be both strategic and execution-focused, capable of identifying opportunities, solving complex operational challenges, and implementing sustainable improvements that support business growth.
Key ResponsibilitiesOperational Leadership- Lead daily packaging operations across multiple production lines to ensure safety, quality, attainment, and efficiency goals are achieved.
- Drive operational performance through effective leadership, accountability, and floor presence.
- Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Continuous Improvement teams.
- Develop and execute packaging strategies aligned with company growth initiatives and operational objectives.
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, GMP, HACCP, OSHA, and regulatory standards.
Team Leadership & Development- Build, coach, and develop high-performing packaging leadership teams and frontline associates.
- Create a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Lead through organizational change and transformation initiatives with a positive and solutions-oriented mindset.
- Mentor supervisors and emerging leaders to strengthen leadership capability across the department.
- Support workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.
Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving- Identify operational inefficiencies and implement sustainable process improvements.
- Utilize data, metrics, and root cause analysis to drive decision-making and resolve complex operational challenges.
- Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, line optimization, labor efficiency, and throughput improvement.
- Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability and packaging performance.
- Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, and packaging innovation efforts.
Performance & Financial Management- Monitor and manage departmental KPIs including safety, quality, downtime, labor utilization, waste, and OEE performance.
- Develop and manage departmental budgets and cost improvement initiatives.
- Drive productivity improvements while maintaining product quality and employee safety.
- Support inventory accuracy and packaging material management initiatives.