Operations Lead

Ingredion Incorporated; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 84,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards Package

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) with company match

Wellness resources

Job summary

Ingredion Incorporated seeks an Operations Lead to oversee Richland facility manufacturing, drive safety, quality, and continuous improvement, and lead high-performing teams. The role focuses on cost control, reliability, and customer success in a fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years of manufacturing leadership, a relevant engineering degree, and strong GMP knowledge, with the ability to mentor teams and partner across functions.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment (food, chemical, biochemical, pharma or related industries preferred).
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical preferred) or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of GMP, manufacturing processes, maintenance practices, and cost controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient production performance.
• Drive safety and environmental programs to maintain an injury-free, compliant workplace.
• Manage plant operations to hit production goals, budgets, quality standards, and GMP requirements.
• Collaborate with Quality, EHSS, Engineering and Warehouse teams to ensure excellence and service.
• Lead CI initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma to improve productivity and reduce waste.
• Support capital planning and partner with site leadership on investments for reliability and growth.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Process improvement

Communication

Team building

Lean/Six Sigma

Safety/quality mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical preferred) or related field

Equivalent experience considered

Job description

About Ingredion:

Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you’ve experienced our work in your favorite chocolate, your pet’s food, the paper you write on, and your everyday snacks. As a global powerhouse across more than 60 industries, we harness the potential of natural ingredients to transform lives. Whether you’re just starting your career or bringing years of experience, there's a place for you here to make a real difference. Be part of our team that values a wide range of perspectives and is committed to shaping a better world with every product we create.

Location: Richland, WA

Workplace type: Onsite

Ingredion is seeking a results-driven Operations Lead to lead manufacturing operations at our Richland facility. This role offers the opportunity to drive operational excellence, strengthen safety and quality performance, develop high-performing teams, and deliver continuous improvement initiatives that support business growth and customer success.

What You Will Do:

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable production performance across all operational areas.
• Drive best-in-class safety and environmental management systems to maintain an injury-free and environmentally compliant workplace.
• Manage plant operations to achieve production goals, budgets, quality standards, and GMP requirements while optimizing costs.
• Partner with Quality, EHSS, Engineering, and Warehouse teams to ensure operational excellence and exceptional customer service.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, and other CI methodologies to improve productivity, reduce waste, and deliver targeted savings.
• Manage plant cost performance and develop systems that support data-driven decision making and sustainable operational improvements.
• Support capital planning activities by partnering with site leadership to identify and prioritize investments that improve reliability, growth capacity, safety, and cost efficiency.
• Develop, coach, and lead high-performing teams through talent development, succession planning, employee engagement, and performance management.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and company regulations, policies, and standards.
• Provide accurate reporting on plant performance and proactively communicate production risks and opportunities to site leadership.

What You Will Bring:

• 3+ years of leadership experience within a manufacturing environment; food, chemical, biochemical, pharmaceutical, or related process industries preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical Engineering preferred) or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will also be considered.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, operations systems, maintenance practices, GMP requirements, and process improvement methodologies.
• Experience managing operational budgets, cost controls, and productivity improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and driving operational performance in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and effectively communicate technical and operational information.

Who You Are:

• A safety and quality-driven leader who creates a culture of accountability and operational discipline.
• A collaborative team builder who develops talent, engages employees, and promotes teamwork across functions.
• A continuous improvement champion with hands-on experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, and problem-solving methodologies.
• A business-minded operator who understands financial performance, budgets, cost management, and operational decision making.
• A proactive and decisive problem solver who can identify opportunities, implement solutions, and deliver measurable results.
• An influential leader capable of driving process improvements and helping teams adopt more effective ways of working.
• Well-organized with strong planning, prioritization, and time management skills.
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Why Join Ingredion?

Discover Why Ingredion Is The Ideal Place To Advance Your Career With Our Exceptional Rewards And Benefits Package Designed To Help You Thrive. Create The Future With Us And Enjoy:

• Total Rewards Package – Competitive salary and performance-based pay recognizing your contributions to our success
• Comprehensive Benefits & Wellness Support – Health, long-term savings, and resources for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being
• Career Growth – Learning, training, and development opportunities, including tuition reimbursement
• Employee Recognition Program – A culture of real-time appreciation, with personalized recognition rewards globally
• Employee Discount Program – Provides exclusive discounts on everyday products, services, and travelundefined

Relocation Available:

Yes, Within Country

Pay Range:

$84,400.00-$112,533.33 Annual

This pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Final base salary will be determined based on several factors which may include but are not limited to responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data and applicable bargaining agreement (if any).

Incentive Compensation:

As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Ingredion Annual Incentive Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus.

Benefits:

Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental and vision coverage as well as a 401(k) plan with an competitive company match.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Ingredion seeks to provide a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, handicap or disability—mental or physical—marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability resulting from military service, or any other classification protected by law (“protected classifications”). We are committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs.

Ingredion uses AI-enabled tools to support parts of the recruitment process, including resume screening and interview scheduling. These tools help match candidate skills to job requirements and streamline communication. All AI-assisted decisions are reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team to ensure fairness and compliance with applicable laws. By applying, you acknowledge that AI may be used to support your application journey.