Director Operations Beverage Manufacturing

NPAworldwide; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Client in the Dallas area seeks an Operations Director to own daily manufacturing operations at a large beverage plant. You will lead seven direct reports and collaborate with the Senior Plant Director to drive safety, quality, cost, and delivery in a 24/7 union setting.

This build-the-culture leadership role emphasizes implementing the integrated work system, driving accountability, and delivering P&L results across production, packaging, and purchasing.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of production management in high-speed food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing.
• Deployment of a structured continuous improvement methodology: IWS, Lean, or TPM.
• Experience with consumer packaging.
• Proven budget, cost management, and P&L ownership.
• Experience leading in a union environment.
• Ability to support a 24/7 operation, including day/night shifts and occasional weekends.

Responsibilities

• Own daily manufacturing operations for an extra-large beverage plant.
• Lead the business unit leaders and carry accountability for output, cost, safety, and quality.
• Drive accountability and cultural change through the integrated work system.
• Monitor and improve plant performance across safety, quality, cost, delivery, engagement, and environmental metrics.
• Provide direction across production, packaging, processing, planning, and purchasing.
• Manage operational budgets, cost controls, and P&L.
• Partner with HR on hiring, performance, and employee relations in a union environment.
• Oversee capital project planning and execution.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, AIB, FDA, ISO, safety, and food quality standards.

Skills

Production management

Continuous improvement

Consumer packaging

P&L ownership

Union leadership

24/7 operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/business/food science

Job description

Operations Director

Beverage Manufacturing | DFW Metro, Texas | Confidential Client Search

Job Description

Beverage Manufacturing | DFW Metro, Texas | Confidential Client Search

Position Snapshot

Location: DFW metro, Texas. Onsite, no hybrid.

Reports to: Senior Plant Director

Direct reports: 7 total: 5 business unit leaders, 1 planning manager, 1 process engineer (training focus)

Plant profile: Extra-large beverage manufacturing facility

Environment: Union plant, 24/7 operation

Compensation: plus performance-based bonus

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, 401k, wellness program, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, flexible time off, paid parental bonding leave

Relocation: Yes

About The Client

A large, well-established food and beverage manufacturer with a national footprint and a portfolio of nationally recognized consumer brands. Thousands of employees across more than a dozen U.S. production sites. This is one of their largest beverage facilities.

The Role

Own daily manufacturing operations for an extra-large beverage plant. You partner directly with the Senior Plant Director, lead the business unit leaders, and carry accountability for output, cost, safety, and quality.

This is a build-the-culture role as much as a run-the-plant role. The site runs a formal integrated work system and needs a leader who can drive accountability against it rather than simply administer around it.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead short and medium term production strategy to optimize labor, materials, and workflow
• Drive accountability and cultural change through a structured integrated work system
• Monitor and improve plant performance across safety, quality, cost, delivery, engagement, and environmental metrics
• Provide direction across production, packaging, processing, planning, and purchasing
• Manage operational budgets, cost controls, and P&L
• Partner with HR on hiring, performance, and employee relations in a union environment
• Oversee capital project planning and execution
• Ensure compliance with GMP, AIB, FDA, ISO, safety, and food quality standards

Qualifications

Must Have

• 10+ years of production management experience in high-speed food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing
• Hands-on deployment of a structured continuous improvement methodology: IWS, Lean, or TPM. Actual implementation, not classroom exposure.
• Consumer packaging experience
• Demonstrated budget, cost management, and P&L ownership
• Experience leading in a union environment
• Able to support a 24/7 operation, including day or night shift coverage and occasional weekends

Preferred

• 2+ years of aseptic and extended shelf life (ESL) processing experience
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or food science

Client name disclosed on qualified submittal.

Why Is This a Great Opportunity

A large, nationally recognized food and beverage manufacturer is hiring an Operations Director for its extra-large beverage plant in the DFW metro. This is a senior plant leadership role reporting to the Senior Plant Director, with seven direct reports and full accountability for safety, quality, cost, and delivery across a 24/7 union operation. Ideal for a plant or production leader from high-speed food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing who has deployed IWS, Lean, or TPM and owned a P&L.