Director of Operations

The People Co.; Lakeland (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits package

Leadership exposure to executive team

Job summary

The People Co. is seeking a Senior Director of Operations to lead our manufacturing operations across North America, driving operational excellence and growth. The role focuses on safety, quality, service, and cost performance within production facilities.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in manufacturing operations, with a track record in food or beverage, Lean and Continuous Improvement, and strong leadership and cross-functional teamwork skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience required.
• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience, with 5+ years in senior leadership.
• Experience in food or beverage manufacturing and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all manufacturing operations (Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, Planning, Warehouse).
• Drive safety, food safety, quality, service and cost performance.
• Set daily, weekly and monthly operating rhythms with clear KPIs and accountability.
• Partner with Procurement, Planning, QA, HR and Commercial to align ops with business goals.
• Lead CI initiatives focusing on OEE, yield, labor productivity, waste, downtime.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Lean manufacturing

Operations management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business or related field

Job description

Our client is a growing food manufacturer serving customers across North America. They are seeking a Senior Director of Operations to lead manufacturing operations, drive operational excellence, and support continued growth across their production facilities.

Responsibilities:

• Lead all manufacturing operations, including Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, Planning, and Warehouse functions.
• Drive safety, food safety, quality, service, and cost performance across the organization.
• Establish and manage daily, weekly, and monthly operating rhythms with clear KPIs and accountability measures.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Procurement, Planning, QA, HR, and Commercial to align operations with business objectives.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on OEE, yield, labor productivity, waste reduction, and downtime.
• Develop and manage operating budgets, capital projects, and long-term facility improvement plans.
• Ensure compliance with SQF, HACCP, GMP, OSHA, FDA, and customer requirements.
• Build, coach, and develop leaders while fostering a high-performance and safety-focused culture.
• Provide operational leadership and strategic reporting to executive leadership.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience, including 5+ years in a Plant Manager, Director, or senior leadership capacity.
• Food or beverage manufacturing experience.
• Demonstrated success improving safety, quality, service levels, productivity, and cost performance.
• Strong knowledge of SQF, HACCP, GMP, OSHA, and food manufacturing best practices.
• Experience leading Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Budget management, capital project, and operational planning experience.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team development skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Multi-site manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience with ammonia refrigeration systems and PSM-covered processes.

What We Will Offer:

• A competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package.
• A highly visible leadership role reporting directly to executive leadership.
• The opportunity to drive strategy, operational excellence, and business growth within a growing manufacturing organization.
• Significant influence over continuous improvement, capital investment, and team development initiatives.
• A collaborative environment where leadership, innovation, and accountability are highly valued.