Manager Operations

Sensient Technologies; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sensient Technologies in Missouri is seeking an Operations Manager to lead our Colors manufacturing team. You will drive safety, quality, and continuous improvement while coaching and developing people across shifts.

You’ll partner with maintenance, process improvement, and other functions to solve problems and ensure efficient production of high‑quality colors and flavors products. The role requires strategic planning, scheduling, onboarding, and training, plus a commitment to regulatory

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred.
• Experience leading manufacturing operations with safety and quality focus.
• Ability to develop people and manage priorities effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead production operations to meet safety, quality, productivity, staffing, and customer requirements.
• Ensure production activities meet product specs and food safety and regulatory standards.
• Assess staffing needs, adjust schedules, support hiring and onboarding, and train staff.
• Collaborate with maintenance and other teams to resolve challenges and improve reliability.
• Promote consistent policies and identify opportunities to reduce costs.
• Plan major facility shutdowns, including decontamination, maintenance and start-up.
• Support site initiatives and foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

At Sensient Technologies, we are experts in the science, art and innovation of color and flavor. We are market-savvy and visionary. We are problem solvers. And we will be better with you.

We are seeking an Operations Manager who is an experienced manufacturing leader passionate about safety, quality, and developing people. As a Manager of Operations on our growing Colors team, you will lead production operations, coach and develop employees, and drive a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement. You’ll partner with leadership and cross-functional teams to solve problems, improve performance, and ensure efficient production of high-quality products.

What You’ll Do

• Lead production operations to meet safety, quality, productivity, staffing, and customer requirements while following company and regulatory standards.
• Ensure production activities consistently meet product specifications and food safety requirements, including applicable manufacturing, environmental, workplace safety, and regulatory standards.
• Assess production needs and staffing levels, adjust schedules, support hiring and onboarding, and ensure employees receive the training and qualifications required for their roles.
• Partner with maintenance, technical operations, process improvement, and other teams to resolve production challenges, improve reliability, and develop long-term solutions.
• Promote consistent application of policies, procedures, accountability, and operational standards across production areas while identifying opportunities to reduce costs.
• Lead planning for major facility shutdowns, including production, decontamination, maintenance, and start-up activities.
• Support site and company initiatives while fostering a culture of safety, quality, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Significant manufacturing experience, with progressive leadership experience in production management.
• Experience leading increasingly complex manufacturing operations and managing production teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Ability to work independently, coordinate effectively across departments, and manage priorities with limited supervision.
• Experience in food manufacturing is preferred but not required.
• Commitment to maintaining the highest standards of food safety and quality, including compliance with applicable Safe Quality Food requirements.

What You’ll Get

• The opportunity to lead a critical production operation and make a direct impact on safety, quality, and business performance.
• A leadership role with meaningful responsibility for employee development, operational performance, and continuous improvement.
• The opportunity to collaborate with experienced professionals across production, maintenance, technical operations, and process improvement.
• An environment that values employee safety, product quality, accountability, and ideas for improvement.
• Opportunities to contribute to facility and company‑wide initiatives that support long‑term operational success.

About Sensient:

Sensient Technologies Corporation is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors, and extracts. Sensient employs advanced technologies at facilities around the world to develop specialty food and beverage systems, cosmetic and pharmaceutical systems, specialty colors, and other specialty and fine chemicals. The Company’s customers include major international manufacturers representing most of the world’s best‑known brands.

About Sensient Colors:

Sensient Colors is a leading developer, producer, and supplier of natural and synthetic color systems for customers around the globe. The Company’s high‑performance products play a vital role in the manufacture of foods and beverages, cosmetic and pharmaceutical colors and coatings, and colors for agricultural uses, household cleaners and paper products.

Sponsorship:

Due to our inability to offer visa sponsorship, we can only consider candidates who are authorized to work in (country) without the need for employment visa sponsorship.

Sensient is an Equal Opportunity Employer, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.