General Manager

The QTI Group; Town of Waterloo (WI); In loco; USD 120.000 - 190.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Van Holten’s, a Waterloo, Wisconsin-based leader in pickles and snacks, is seeking a hands-on General Manager to serve as the senior operating leader. You will oversee day-to-day operations, drive performance, and build a strong manufacturing management team to support growth and long-term success.

The ideal candidate has extensive manufacturing leadership experience, a track record of building accountable teams, and the ability to implement practical processes in a fast-paced environment.

Competenze

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Ability to develop and implement practical operating processes and systems.
• Proven ability to develop leaders, build strong teams, and establish accountability.

Mansioni

• Oversee day-to-day operations across Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality.
• Drive operational excellence, productivity, and cost control.
• Develop management talent and leadership depth for long-term success.
• Align operational decisions with financial performance and strategic goals.

Conoscenze

Manufacturing leadership

Leadership development

Team building

Process improvement

Operational excellence

Strategic thinking

Descrizione del lavoro

Van Holten's has exclusively retained The QTI Group to lead the search for a General Manager. Founded in 1898, Van Holten’s is a family-owned company based in Waterloo, Wisconsin. We developed the original Pickle-In-A-Pouch as the perfect on-the-go snack for pickle lovers everywhere, and continue to bring fresh, bold flavors to our iconic pickles. From Warheads® Extreme Sour to Mega® Chamoy, we’ve got you covered.

We are seeking a hands-on, value driven General Manager to join our team and become the Senior Operating Leader, overseeing operations, building and developing the manufacturing management team and drive business performance. With a strong brand presence, a stable financial foundation, and expanding national and international distribution, the organization is seeking an experienced General Manager to help lead the next phase of our growth journey.

This is a unique opportunity to join an entrepreneurial organization where decisions are made quickly, ideas are valued, and leaders have the autonomy to make a meaningful impact. The General Manager will serve as the company's senior operational leader, partnering closely with executive leadership to drive performance, develop talent, and support long-term business success.

The General Manager will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, improving organizational performance, developing management talent, and driving operational excellence across the business. This individual will provide leadership to Manufacturing, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Food Safety & Quality teams while ensuring operational decisions align with broader business and financial objectives.

The ideal candidate is a strategic and hands-on leader who can build and develop strong teams, implement practical processes, drive accountability, and consistently deliver results in a manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Connect operational decisions to financial performance, profitability, and overall business results.
• Develop a capable, accountable management team that can operate with greater independence.
• Strengthen operating processes, planning, performance measurement, and follow-through without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Improve productivity, equipment reliability, cost control, quality, safety, and customer service.
• Identify opportunities and problems early, make sound decisions, and drive action through completion.
• Challenge existing practices, simplify processes, and eliminate unnecessary costs and complexity.
• Work closely with Sales, Finance, and other leaders to support innovation, growth, and capital investment decisions.
• Build the organizational structure and leadership depth needed for long-term success.

Desired Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with broad operational responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement practical operating processes and systems that deliver measurable results.
• Proven ability to develop leaders, build strong teams, and establish accountability and consistent follow-through.
• Detail-oriented and organized, while maintaining a broader business perspective and knowing what deserves attention.
• Comfortable in a smaller, privately owned business with limited bureaucracy.
• Previous leadership experience in a food manufacturing operation strongly preferred, union experience and previous experience in an SQF environment a plus