Vice President of Manufacturing Operations - $160k - $200k + Equity - Loveland, OH
We’re partnering with a rapidly scaling food company to identify an exceptional operational leader to drive manufacturing excellence and support aggressive growth. This is a pivotal role for a proven leader who thrives in dynamic, high-growth environments and has a track record of scaling production while maintaining quality and efficiency.
About the Role
We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Director or VP of Manufacturing Operations to own end-to-end production in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. This leader will ensure on-time, on-spec delivery while building scalable systems and fostering cross-functional alignment with Commercial, R&D, and Business teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee daily operations including production, scheduling, quality, and inventory. Ensure consistent on-spec output and OTIF performance.
- Lead continuous improvement, capacity planning, and long-term infrastructure strategy to support product line growth and new launches.
- Act as the operational bridge with R&D and Commercial teams to align manufacturing capabilities with innovation and market demands.
- Define, track, and improve KPIs (OTIF, yield, waste, cost, throughput, downtime). Build robust data systems for real-time decision-making.
- Develop and execute capital investment strategies to expand capacity in line with demand forecasts and new product pipelines.
- Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to maintain GMP, HACCP, and FDA standards.
- Design and implement comprehensive training programs to ensure operational competency and cross-functional flexibility.
- Build and lead a high-performing manufacturing organization with a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- 7+ years in food or consumable manufacturing, with 3+ years in senior operations leadership
- Proven success scaling production in a high-growth environment
- Deep expertise in food manufacturing processes, quality systems, and regulatory compliance (GMP, HACCP, FDA)
- Experience partnering with R&D to commercialize pilot products at scale
- Strong analytical skills with a history of data-driven decision-making
- Demonstrated ability to build and lead cross-functional, high-performing teams
- Proficiency with manufacturing ERPs and WMS
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Food Science, Operations, or related field (MBA a plus)
Nice to Have
- Experience with early-stage or rapidly scaling food brands
- Background in capital project execution or greenfield/brownfield facility expansions
This is a rare opportunity to shape operations at a high-growth food company with ambitious innovation and expansion plans.
