Director of Operations

• Lead key initiatives in manufacturing and ERP optimization.
• Shape strategy and culture, and the chance to impact long-term business growth.

About Our Client

A family-owned manufacturer within the meat industry.

Job Description

Department Leadership & Accountability

· Provide direct leadership, direction, coaching, and accountability to the Production, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Quality department leaders.

· Establish clear performance expectations, responsibilities, goals, and KPIs for each department.

· Conduct regular performance reviews with department managers and hold leaders accountable for results.

Department Management & Operational Execution

· Ensure effective execution of production schedules, labor utilization, throughput, yield, equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, warehouse performance, inventory accuracy, and material flow across both facilities.

· Ensure departments consistently follow established processes, SOPs, safety requirements, quality standards, and ERP procedures.

· Identify operational constraints, recurring problems, and performance gaps; lead cross-functional root-cause analysis and ensure sustainable corrective actions are implemented.

· Establish a consistent daily, weekly, and monthly operating cadence to review performance, address issues, and drive accountability.

· Serve as the operational subject matter expert and business owner for the Company's ERP system

Financial & Budget Management

· Own Operations' financial performance and departmental budgets, including labor, overtime, maintenance, manufacturing costs, yield, scrap, rework, and other controllable operating expenses.

· Monitor and analyze budget-to-actual performance, identify unfavorable variances and cost drivers, and hold department leaders accountable for corrective actions and financial performance.

Strategic Planning and Capacity Management

· Translate company strategy and growth objectives into actionable Operations plans, goals, and KPIs

· Assess current and future manufacturing capacity and operational requirements to support continued growth

· Identify operational constraints, risks, and opportunities and develop strategies to improve capacity, throughput, efficiency, and scalability

· Develop and prioritize operational CAPEX and strategic initiatives, ensuring resources are aligned with business priorities

Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement

· Establish and maintain standardized processes, SOPs, and operating practices

· Lead continuous-improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, throughput, yield, labor efficiency, cost, equipment reliability, and inventory performance.

· Identify and implement automation and technology opportunities that provide measurable operational or financial value.

Cross-Functional Leadership

· Partner with Supply Chain, FSQA/Quality, Sales, Finance, HR, Engineering, and other functions to optimize end-to-end business performance.

· Resolve cross-functional operational issues and establish clear ownership, priorities, and accountability.

· Ensure Operations decisions support the Company's overall safety, quality, customer service, financial, and strategic objectives.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

· Champion a strong safety culture and hold Operations leadership accountable for safe working practices and performance.

· Partner with FSQA to ensure operational execution consistently meets USDA, food-safety, quality, customer, and regulatory requirements.

· Ensure operational deficiencies are promptly addressed and corrective actions are implemented and sustained.

The Successful Applicant

· Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field;

· 10+ years of progressive manufacturing/operations experience, with increasing levels of leadership responsibility.

· Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and holding accountable multiple department managers or operational leaders.

· Demonstrated experience managing multi-department manufacturing operations.

· Strong understanding of production management, manufacturing processes, labor management, equipment reliability, and warehouse operations.

· Demonstrated experience establishing and managing operational KPIs.

· Strong financial and budget-management skills, including experience managing labor, overtime, operating expenses, and budget variances.

· Demonstrated expertise with ERP systems and their application within manufacturing operations; Microsoft Dynamics Business Central experience strongly preferred.

· Strong analytical, decision-making, problem-solving, and root-cause-analysis skills.

· Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing and continuous-improvement methodologies.

· Demonstrated ability to translate strategic objectives into measurable operational goals and execution plans.

· Demonstrated project-management and change-management experience.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Demonstrated ability to develop SOPs, processes, policies, and other operational documentation.

· Strong organizational and time-management skills.

· Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth manufacturing environment.

· Ability and willingness to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor working directly with employees and leaders.

· Experience in food manufacturing preferred.

· Experience with SQF codes is preferred.

What’s on Offer

Competitive annual salary and bonus.

Contact

Michelle Principi

Quote job ref

JN-082026-7086516