Head of Ready-To-Eat Operations

Foster Farms; Livingston (CA); On-site; USD 151,000 - 252,000; Full time

Job summary

Foster Farms in California (Livingston area) seeks Prepared Foods Head of Operations to oversee five facilities, directing safety, production, quality control, and regulatory compliance. This role shapes strategy and delivers operational excellence in line with ACTION principles.

The ideal candidate has lean manufacturing and SQF audits experience, knowledge of OSHA/USDA/PSM, strong financial acumen, and a track record building high-performing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent work experience.
• 7–10 years of progressive leadership in food manufacturing; RTE or USDA experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of safety, quality systems, regulations, compliance, and risk management.
• Proven leadership, communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Budget management, cost control, KPI‑driven performance management.
• Willingness to travel as needed across facilities.
• Aligned with Foster Farms’ ACTION principles.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and execute the operations strategy to achieve goals and growth targets.
• Oversee daily operation of ready‑to‑eat manufacturing including production, maintenance, quality control, warehousing, and wastewater management.
• Implement lean manufacturing to optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and increase productivity.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (safety, quality, engineering, compliance, supply chain).
• Prepare and manage the operational budget with cost control and forecasting.
• Drive financial performance through effective P&L management and efficiency improvements.
• Report KPIs and operational metrics, maintaining safety, quality, cost, and productivity targets.
• Cultivate a high‑performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with USDA/OSHA/PSM and internal safety and food safety standards.
• Lead and develop a diverse team of maintenance and reliability professionals.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

SQF audits

Regulatory compliance

Financial management

People leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent

Job description

Foster Farms in California (Livingston area) seeks Prepared Foods Head of Operations to oversee five facilities, directing safety, production, quality control, and regulatory compliance. This role shapes strategy and delivers operational excellence in line with ACTION principles.

The ideal candidate has lean manufacturing and SQF audits experience, knowledge of OSHA/USDA/PSM, strong financial acumen, and a track record building high-performing teams.