Director of Operations
hace 8 días
Syracuse
We’re working with a well-established and growing food & beverage manufacturer that is looking to fill an operations leadership position that will oversee two locations. Must have a background that includes over a decade of leadership experience in the food manufacturing industry with proven experience leading multiple locations with capital project experience with a continuous improvement mindset! that is looking to fill an operations leadership position that will oversee two locations. Must have a background that includes over a decade of leadership experience in the food manufacturing industry with proven experience leading multiple locations with capital project experience with a continuous improvement mindset! Location – Syracuse, NY Job Responsibilities: • Create an organizational structure for manufacturing operations that support business growth and operational excellence., • Implement the strategic vision for manufacturing in alignment business objectives., • Coordinate with leadership to establish manufacturing KPIs, performance targets, and long-range operational plans., • Partake in the evaluation and recommendation of new products and processing capabilities, • Deliver overall direction and accountability for daily operations across two manufacturing facilities., • Lead and hold leadership accountable across all plant functions, • Maintain hands-on leadership presence in manufacturing facilities, enforcing safety, quality, and operational discipline., • Ensure all operations meet or exceed federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, including FDA, USDA, OSHA, and environmental regulations., • Create, maintain, and continuously improve food safety and quality systems, • Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets aligned with production forecasts, growth initiatives, and capital projects., • Hold Plant Managers accountable for labor efficiency, operating expenses, inventory management, and budget, • Assess operational performance and financial results, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, and enhance asset utilization., • Lead multi-year cost reduction and efficiency initiatives while maintaining product quality and service reliability., • Provide executive oversight of capital projects, including scope definition, budgeting, scheduling, equipment selection, procurement, installation, commissioning, and startup., • Partner with Engineering and Maintenance leadership to oversee utilities, wastewater treatment, preventive maintenance programs, and infrastructure reliability., • Apply continuous improvement and project management tools to ensure capital projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget., • Collaborate with Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, Sales, Customer Service, and Finance to ensure manufacturing capabilities align with customer requirements and business priorities., • Support new product development, scale-up, and commercialization of ingredients and consumer products., • Serve as the primary operational interface with external regulators, customers, vendors, and industry partners, • Build, develop, and retain high-performing manufacturing leadership teams., • Oversee hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and succession planning across operations., • Foster a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and teamwork, • Ensure effective delivery of operational, food safety, technical, and leadership training programs., • Champion a strong food safety and quality culture across all facilities., • Ensure accurate and current manufacturing protocols, SOPs, and product specifications are maintained and followed., • Lead or support investigations of consumer and customer complaints in collaboration with Quality and Engineering teams., • Ensure employees are trained and perform their duties in a safe, sanitary, and efficient manner. Required Skills/Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered., • 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing (dairy preferred), • Proven experience leading multi-site manufacturing operations and large, diverse teams., • Demonstrated success managing operating budgets, capital planning, and financial performance., • Working knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies and operational excellence tools., • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence effectively from the production floor to executive leadership and external stakeholders., • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities., • Proven ability to build, mentor, and lead teams of technical and non-technical professionals., • High level of integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality., • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with project management and engineering tools, • Ability to navigate all areas of the facility, including office spaces, warehouse areas, and the exterior perimeter., • Physically capable of standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, and twisting, • Able to lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds independently and heavier objects with reasonable accommodations., • Visual acuity sufficient to perform job duties accurately., • Capable of assessing weights, judging distances, and working at various heights.