Head of Manufacturing

Location: Boston, MA

Reports to: Divisional CEO & President

Type: Full Time / W2

Pay Rate: $160K-$180K depending on experience.

About the Company

Our client is a nationally recognized leader in the food and beverage industry, producing some of the most well-known and trusted consumer products on the market. With a commitment to quality, safety, and innovation, the company continues to expand its footprint and modernize its production capabilities to meet growing demand.

Position Overview

The Head of Manufacturing will provide strategic and operational leadership for all manufacturing and packaging operations within a high-volume food production facility. This role oversees all plant personnel—including managers, supervisors, shift leads, hourly employees, and temporary workers—to ensure consistent production performance, product quality, and adherence to safety and regulatory standards.

Reporting directly to the Divisional CEO and President, this individual will play a key role on the senior leadership team, driving operational excellence, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and ensuring the facility operates safely, efficiently, and profitably.

Key Responsibilities

Lead all aspects of plant manufacturing, packaging, and maintenance operations to ensure on-time, high-quality production of branded food products.
Oversee and develop a diverse team of manufacturing leaders, supervisors, and frontline employees, including temporary labor, fostering engagement and performance across all shifts.
Partner with corporate leadership on strategic planning, budgeting, and capacity expansion initiatives.
Champion food safety, quality assurance, and compliance with all FDA, USDA, OSHA, and GMP standards.
Implement and sustain Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement initiatives to enhance throughput and reduce waste.
Monitor and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) for safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering to optimize production processes and support new product introductions.
Ensure the facility maintains a strong culture of safety, employee engagement, and teamwork.
Serve as a visible and hands-on leader who drives accountability and operational discipline across all departments.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Business, Operations Management, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
10+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, CPG, or a related high-volume production environment.
Proven success leading large teams in a union or non-union setting, including both salaried and hourly staff.
Deep understanding of manufacturing systems, process optimization, and cost control within food or beverage production.
Strong knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulatory requirements.
Demonstrated success implementing Lean/Six Sigma methodologies and driving measurable improvement.
Excellent communication, people leadership, and change management skills.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment with multiple priorities.

Why Join

This is a highly visible opportunity to lead a flagship manufacturing facility for one of the most respected names in the food industry. The right leader will have the autonomy and resources to shape operational strategy, modernize production capabilities, and develop a strong team culture that supports long-term growth.

MKE Consulting

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Head of Manufacturing