Vice President of Operations – Food Manufacturing
Summary
The Vice President of Operations is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight across all manufacturing, production, quality, supply chain, and distribution activities within the organization. This role ensures operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement to support growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction in a highly regulated food manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership: Direct all plant operations, production scheduling, quality assurance, procurement, logistics, and distribution to meet company goals.
- Strategic Planning: Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company objectives, emphasizing efficiency, safety, quality, and sustainability.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all facilities and processes comply with FDA, USDA, OSHA, and other relevant food safety and manufacturing regulations.
- Continuous Improvement: Champion lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other process improvement initiatives to optimize throughput, reduce waste, and lower costs.
- Quality & Food Safety: Oversee quality systems, food safety programs, and audits to maintain certifications (e.g., SQF, BRC, ISO) and exceed customer expectations.
- Supply Chain Management: Manage vendor relationships, inventory control, and distribution networks to ensure cost-effective, reliable supply and delivery.
- Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and develop plant managers and operations teams, building a high-performance culture focused on accountability and results.
- Financial Management: Develop and manage operational budgets, forecasts, and capital expenditures, ensuring strong return on investment.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with R&D, Sales, and Marketing to support new product launches and meet customer demands.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field (MBA preferred).
- 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods (CPG).
- Strong knowledge of food safety regulations, GMPs, HACCP, and quality management systems.
- Proven track record implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to lead multi-site operations and manage large teams.
- Excellent financial acumen, communication, and leadership skills.
Competencies
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving
- Strong execution and results orientation
- Change management and organizational development
- Excellent interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills
