Growing food manufacturer in the Chicago suburbs is seeking a
Senior Manufacturing Managerthat will direct daily production operations to maximize throughput, ensure uncompromising food safety, and drive cost efficiency. Leading a multi-shift team in a high-volume food manufacturing environment, this role champions continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) and fosters a proactive culture of workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
Key ResponsibilitiesOperations & Continuous Improvement- Production Velocity:Drive daily manufacturing processes to consistently meet or exceed throughput, yield, and schedule adherence targets.
- OEE Optimization:Partner with maintenance and engineering to eliminate bottlenecks, minimize downtime, and maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
- Lean Execution:Lead plant-wide Lean, 5S, and Six Sigma initiatives to reduce ingredient waste, optimize labor, and streamline workflows.
Food Safety, Compliance & Quality- Audit Readiness:Maintain year-round, audit-ready compliance withFDA, USDA, OSHA, andSQF/BRCstandards.
- Sanitation & Hygiene:Oversee strict allergen management, Clean-in-Place (CIP) protocols, and QA partnerships to eliminate contamination risks.
- Safety Leadership:Champion a zero-incident safety culture through behavioral safety audits, root-cause analyses, and compliance training.
Leadership & Financial Accountability- Team Development:Manage, mentor, and build a high-performing team of supervisors and operators across a multi-shift operation.
- P&L Management:Manage the departmental OpEx and labor budgets, actively tracking and correcting unfavorable variances in yield and labor.
Qualifications- Experience:7+ years in manufacturing leadership, with3+ years specifically in food/beverage processingor high-speed CPG.
- Education:Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
- Credentials:HACCPandSQF Practitionercertifications highly preferred; Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt is a major plus.
- Tech Skills:Proficiency with ERP/MES systems (SAP, NetSuite) and automated processing/packaging equipment.
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