Operations Manager

Johnsonville Sausage, LLC; Holton (KS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly bonus

401(k) match

Medical, dental, vision

Job summary

Johnsonville is seeking an Operations Manager to lead the Holton manufacturing team, focusing on safety, quality, and continuous improvement. You will establish KPIs, mentor staff, and drive efficient production across shifts.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in operations leadership, with meat industry experience preferred, and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field. This on-site role offers growth, strong benefits, and leadership within our Johnsonville family.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years in an operations leadership role with multi-department oversight.
• 5+ years meat industry or food commodity experience preferred.
• Experience managing people leaders and driving meaningful change.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Holton operations and coaching of the team.
• Establish clear KPIs and provide feedback to enhance engagement.
• Drive operational excellence and safe, compliant manufacturing.
• Oversee safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with cross-functional teams and leadership to align strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

KPI discipline

CI / Continuous Improvement

Cross-functional leadership

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's Degree in manufacturing, business, engineering, or related field

Job description

Career Opportunities: Operations Manager (53738)

Requisition ID53738-Posted07/16/2026-Manufacturing Leadership & Support

At Johnsonville, our Members are responsible for everything! If you’re passionate about making a difference, we want you to help make our products, our processes, our communities and each other better. As part of our manufacturing leadership and support group, you’ll help ensure production and maintenance Members have the resources and support needed to work safely and efficiently. The group will also ensure the products we produce are of only the highest quality and ready for consumers to enjoy.

Position Overview

Johnsonville is a leading food manufacturing company with multiple manufacturing facilities across various locations. We prioritize the safety of our members, our product quality, and the growth and development of our members. Our culture is built on trust, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence.

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic manufacturing Operations Coordinator to lead our Holton operations team who has a proven track record of creating an environment of ownership, fostering a culture of trust, and achieving superlative results.

Responsibilities

• Lead the performance and coaching of the Holton operations
• Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and accountability; empowering teams to take ownership of their work, pursue continuous improvement, and achieve exceptional outcomes
• Establish clear performance expectations and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), consistently offering feedback and recognition to enhance member engagement and drive motivation
• Strive for operational excellence by achieving Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and facility performance metrics
• Optimize operational processes and align standards of work, while enhancing manufacturing agility
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to team members, fostering their growth and advancement within the organization
• Oversee safety, quality, and compliance with regulatory requirements, instilling a strong sense of responsibility and integrity among all staff members
• Lead manufacturing Reliability Excellence initiatives and Continuous Improvement (CI) efforts to optimize processes and enhance operational efficiency
• Cultivate robust relationships with cross-functional teams and corporate leadership, ensuring alignment with overarching company strategy and objectives
• Lead regular communication channels to keep members informed, engaged, and connected ;

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in manufacturing, business, engineering, or related field required

Experience

• Minimum of 8 years in an operations leadership or equivalent role with responsibility overseeing multiple departments with strong focus on superlative results and team leadership, required
• Minimum of 5 years of meat industry or food commodity experience preferred
• Previous experience directly managing people leaders
• Proven track record of driving and sustaining meaningful, productive change that creates long-term value
• Knowledge of governance, risk, compliance and legal issues relevant in the industry

Skills

• Operates with transparency and unquestionable integrity and builds trusting relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead high performing teams through trust, collaboration, and empowerment
• Leads with confidence and has a motivating executive presence; has outstanding interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence
• Strategic Thinking - Demonstrates a keen ability to think from the outside in
• High level of autonomy in planning, executing, and developing contingencies
• Demonstrated drive to achieve results and take calculated risks
• Confidently adapts and adjusts to changes and challenges while maintaining a positive outlook
• Record of cross-functional project management leadership
• Proficiency in utilizing data for informed decision-making and process optimization
  

Other Requirements

• Travel: Less than 10% of your time
• Responsible for oversight of all 3 shifts. Ability to visit those shifts on a frequent basis.

Benefits and Compensation

Members have potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match. Members also have access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance. Johnsonville also offers competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off! Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

About our Company

Since 1945, our family-owned band of sausage-makers has invented better ways to make, eat and prepare crave-able sausage. Today, we are 4,000+ Members strong. We sell our famous sausage in all 50 United States and more than 40 countries. We have a culture built on the idea that if we make developing your talents our top priority, great business results will follow naturally. We call it The Johnsonville Way. It has been our secret sauce for decades, and we hope you get to experience it for yourself!

Johnsonville is an equal opportunity employer, including Vet/Disability.

We embrace the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including protected veteran and disability status.