Ingredients Operations Manager

Mgp-Ingredients; Atchison (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MGP Ingredients is hiring an Ingredients Operations Manager to lead day-to-day plant activities, drive safety, and improve efficiency. You will manage production, maintenance, and quality programs while guiding a team across shifts to meet KPI targets and budgets.

The role requires strong leadership, collaboration with Sales and Logistics, and a focus on continuous improvement and regulatory compliance. A Bachelor degree and 3–5 years of management in food manufacturing are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or equivalent operations experience required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, ERP and QMS.
• 3–5 years food manufacturing experience + 3–5 years management; 6–10 years total.
• Strong communication, motivation, delegation, and accountability.
• Plan and prioritize the operations of a food production facility with multiple interconnected subsystems.
• Understand the operations of mixers, pumps, dryers, heat exchangers, filtration systems, conveyance systems, and starch and protein modifications.
• Apply the scientific method to solve problems.
• Understand FDA regulations regarding processing of human food products; experience with SAP.
• Able to read and understand engineering/technical documents; understand statistics and SPC.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day plant activities safely and according to procedures.
• Oversee operations to meet KPI goals including production and budget.
• Lead maintenance and reliability efforts; plan turnarounds and asset improvements.
• Collaborate with Sales, Logistics, and cross-functional teams to meet demand.
• Mentor plant personnel and support employee engagement and labor relations.

Skills

Effective communication

Motivate others

Delegate and accountability

Plan, organize, prioritize operations

Plant operations knowledge

Apply the scientific method

FDA regulation understanding

Education

Bachelor degree preferred or equivalent operations experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

SAP

ERP systems

Quality Management System

Job description

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MGP Ingredients is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions. Its Distilling Solutions segment provides bourbons, whiskeys, ryes, gins, and vodkas to craft and multinational brands. MGP's own Branded Spirts business is growing following the 2021 acquisition of Luxco, a top spirits producer, bottler, supplier, and importer as well as the 2023 acquisition of Penelope Bourbon, known for its wide range of uniquely blended expressions. Ingredient Solutions delivers nutritional, functional wheat- and pea-based ingredients aligned with consumer trends. The company operates in locations across the Midwestern U.S., and overseas in Northern Ireland and Mexico.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

As our Ingredients Operations Manager, you will play a critical role in driving a safe, high-performing, and efficient manufacturing operation. You will lead day-to-day plant activities, ensuring all work is completed safely, responsibly, and in accordance with established procedures and standards. You'll champion a culture of continuous improvement by proactively identifying opportunities to enhance productivity, reliability, quality, and operational performance.

In this role, you will oversee plant operations to meet or exceed key performance metrics, including production, budget, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and other operational KPIs. You'll develop and execute strategic plans, analyze performance data, and implement corrective actions to achieve business objectives.

You will also lead maintenance and reliability efforts, coordinating preventive and reactive maintenance activities, turnaround planning, and equipment improvement initiatives to maximize asset performance and plant efficiency. By partnering closely with Sales, Logistics, and other cross-functional teams, you'll help ensure customer demand is met safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.

Success in this role requires a collaborative and people-focused leadership style. You'll build strong relationships across the organization, develop and mentor plant personnel, support employee engagement, and foster a positive work environment. You'll also help resolve employee concerns, support labor relations initiatives, and ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements where applicable.

This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on operations leader who thrives on driving results, developing teams, and making a meaningful impact on plant performance and organizational success.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

Compliance

• Ensure that all work done by MGP employees or contractors is done according to proper procedures. Ensure that all deficiencies/incidents are reported, investigated, and corrected promptly.

Operations

• Ensure all daily operational activities are performed in a safe and efficient manner. Forecast and schedule production ensuring KPI goals are met.
• Plan and execute reactive and preventative maintenance plans through Maintenance for periodic turnarounds and daily maintenance ensuring the systems are operating safely, reliably and at maximum capacity & efficiency.
• Participate in the development and management of Ingredient’s operating budget in terms of volume, yield and spend.
• Monitor operations for efficiency, assign tasks to the process engineer, develop capital improvement plans, work with R&D in developing and implementing new products

Quality

• Ensure production quality standards are met. Ensure all applicable regulatory requirements are met, and that the facility and documentation is maintained per GFSI/BRC requirements.

Management

• Oversee the shift manager group, Warehouse Superintendent, and Operations Superintendent. Indirectly manage the operator group. Participate in the hiring and training of shift managers as well as operators. Participate in labor relations meetings.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Bachelor degree preferred, or equivalent operations experience
• Experience using Microsoft Office suite (excel, word, PowerPoint, and outlook), ERP and Quality Management system required.
• 3-5 years food manufacturing experience + 3-5 years management experience; 6-10 years total combined.
• Communicate effectively, motivate others, delegate and hold accountability.
• Plan, organize, and prioritize the operations of a food production facility with multiple interconnected subsystems.
• Understand the operations of mixers, pumps, dryers, heat exchangers, filtration systems, conveyance systems, and starch and protein modifications.
• Apply the scientific method to solve problems.
• Understand and uphold FDA regulation regarding the processing of human food products. The ability to use software such as Microsoft Office (excel, word, PowerPoint, and outlook), and SAP.
• Ability to read and understand engineering and other technical documents. The ability to understand statistics and statistical process control.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Type of Equipment Operated: Includes frequently used office equipment, computer software programs, manuals, books, or other written resources, hand tools, power tools, two-way radios, and other tools/equipment/resources; Includes use of sanitation equipment and lab/field equipment; Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook, SAP, copier/printer. Office Equipment: Computer, Copier, Fax machine, two-way radio.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Caitlin Zbikowski, Talent Manager @ [e-mail].

At MGP, we know that our people are our greatest strength. With different perspectives and unique ways of thinking, our employees are as varied as our products. We believe that inclusivity strengthens the organization and champions a company culture that is evolving to reflect all of us. Culture results from our behaviors, our personal commitment, our curiosity, how we collaborate, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and expect others to do the same. Each of us can make a difference by fostering thinking and actions that empower us to connect, belong and grow together.

Compensation is competitive and is commensurate with experience. MGP offers exceptional medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k) Match and PTO.

All successful candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background check and drug test.