Operations Manager

Shearer's Foods, Inc.; Burlington (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Shearer’s Foods is seeking an Operations Manager - Cookies to lead daily plant operations, ensuring safe, cost-effective production and high-quality products. You will drive safety culture, quality compliance, and continuous improvement across departments, partnering with Quality, Maintenance, and HR to meet targets.

The role requires strong leadership, lean manufacturing experience, and the ability to manage both salaried and hourly staff in a fast-paced food production environment.

Qualifications

• Two-year degree in a related field such as food science, operations management, engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in production management or supervision in the food processing industry.
• Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage both salaried professionals and hourly production staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production.
• Drive a culture focused on employee safety, food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Manage and improve performance using KPIs.
• Develop and improve manufacturing processes to boost productivity and quality.
• Provide leadership and coaching to supervisors and production teams.
• Ensure optimal use of labor, equipment, and resources to meet targets.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, HR, and others.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives for waste reduction and process optimization.
• Support workforce planning, talent development, and employee engagement.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Communication

Organizational skills

Mechanical aptitude

Software literacy

Staff management

Education

Two-year degree in related field (food science/operations/engineering)

Job description

Overview

Shearer’s Foods, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Massillon, OH, is a leading manufacturer of salty snacks, cookies, and crackers. Specializing in private label and co-manufacturing, Shearer’s is the largest supplier of private brand salty snacks and second-largest supplier of private brand cookies and crackers.

With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer’s has been awarded the food industry’s highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards.

Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer’s is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community.

At Shearer’s Foods, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. Your skills, experience, and perspective are valuable—and we want to empower you to make your mark here with us.

Responsibilities

Operations Manager - Cookies

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and directing plant operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people objectives. This position drives operational performance through effective leadership, employee development, continuous improvement, and strategic execution. The Operations Manager creates a high-performing, team-based environment that supports organizational goals while ensuring the production of safe, high-quality products.

• Lead daily manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production.


• Drive a culture focused on employee safety, food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.


• Manage and improve operational performance through the effective use of key performance indicators (KPIs).


• Evaluate, develop, and improve manufacturing processes to increase productivity, efficiency, and product quality.


• Provide leadership, coaching, and development to supervisors and production team members.


• Ensure proper utilization of labor, equipment, and resources to meet production targets.


• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and other departments.


• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, process optimization, and operational excellence.


• Support workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement efforts.


• Foster open communication and collaboration throughout the organization.


• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor to provide guidance, support, and accountability.


• Identify and resolve operational challenges while promoting a proactive, solutions-oriented culture.


• Ensure adherence to company policies, procedures, and customer requirements.


• Participate in budgeting, performance management, and strategic planning activities.

Qualifications

• Two-year degree in a related, business or technical field such as food science, operations management, engineering, or the equivalent in experience.




• 2+ years of experience in production management or supervision, in the food processing industry.




• Significant experience with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.




• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.




• Effective mechanical aptitude.




• Proficient computer skills with the ability to learn new systems quickly.




• Demonstrated ability to manage both salaried professionals and hourly production associates in executing complex, operational programs.




• Ability to work a varied schedule.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.