Head of Operations

KCO Resource Management; Burlington (VT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

KCO Resource Management is seeking a Head of Operations for a growing Northeast food manufacturing company. The role will oversee manufacturing execution, guide the operations team, and drive performance on the shop floor in Burlington, VT area with relocation support.

You will lead supervisors and hourly staff, focus on safety, quality, and productivity, and implement improvements across planning, production, and procedures.

Qualifications

• Food or beverage manufacturing experience required.
• Significant progressive experience leading manufacturing operations.
• Experience managing supervisors and hourly production employees.
• Background in plant operations or manufacturing leadership.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, labor management, and metrics.
• Degree preferred; relevant leadership experience may substitute.

Responsibilities

• Direct manufacturing activities and meet production objectives.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to supervisors and staff.
• Evaluate performance and address issues affecting output, labor, cost, quality, and service.
• Set expectations and accountability across the operations team.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve execution.
• Coordinate production requirements with planning and warehouse teams.
• Develop operating procedures to improve consistency.
• Align priorities with Quality and Safety on food safety.
• Use data and metrics to identify problems and guide decisions.
• Participate in ongoing operational improvement projects.
• Develop frontline leadership capabilities and talent pipeline.
• Foster open communication, teamwork and engagement.

Skills

Leadership

Manufacturing ops

Production planning

Performance analytics

Floor coaching

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

We are working with a growing food manufacturing company in the Northeast. They are looking for a Head of Operations to oversee manufacturing execution and help guide the continued development of its operations team. This position will take ownership of manufacturing performance, people leadership, production execution, and operational improvement. We are looking for someone who understands the realities of running a food or beverage operation and is equally comfortable working with frontline employees, developing supervisors, analyzing performance, and solving problems on the floor. The successful candidate will bring a practical leadership style, sound manufacturing judgment, and the ability to create an environment where employees understand expectations and teams work effectively together.

Location:

Burlington, VT area. Relocation assistance available

Job Responsibilities:

• Direct manufacturing activities and ensure production objectives are consistently achieved.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to operations supervisors and employees.
• Evaluate operating performance and address issues affecting output, labor, cost, quality, and service.
• Establish expectations and accountability throughout the operations team.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve how work is executed.
• Work closely with planning and warehouse teams to coordinate production requirements and material flow.
• Develop operating procedures and standards that improve consistency and execution.
• Collaborate with Quality and Safety leaders to ensure operational priorities align with food safety and workplace safety requirements.
• Use operating data and performance metrics to identify problems and guide decisions.
• Participate in operational improvement projects as the business evolves.
• Develop frontline leadership capabilities and help build a strong pipeline of operations talent.
• Foster an environment of open communication, teamwork, accountability, and employee engagement.

Required Skills/Qualifications:

• Food or beverage manufacturing experience required.
• Significant progressive experience leading manufacturing operations.
• Experience managing supervisors and hourly production employees.
• Background in plant operations, production management, manufacturing management, or a comparable leadership position.
• Demonstrated ability to improve operating performance and solve manufacturing problems.
• Strong understanding of production planning, labor management, manufacturing metrics, and daily operating execution.
• Ability to coach and develop supervisors while holding teams accountable for results.
• Comfortable working directly with employees on the production floor.
• Experience implementing process improvements within a manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor's degree is preferred; relevant manufacturing leadership experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.