Operations Manager

Guided Search Partners; Louisiana (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading executive search firm is seeking an Operations Manager for a beverage manufacturing operation in Missouri. This role involves leading manufacturing operations with a focus on safety, quality, cost, and delivery. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and over 5 years of manufacturing experience, including at least 2 years in management. This position offers strong potential for career advancement and requires effective leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 2 years of management experience.
• Experience with Lean Sigma and high-performance programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations for manufacturing.
• Improve productivity and reduce waste through initiatives.
• Manage operating spend against budget.

Skills

Solutions-oriented leadership

Technical troubleshooting

Coaching and engagement

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with a well-established beverage manufacturing operation focused on improving performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost. This Operations Manager role leads a key value stream from printing through finishing and is viewed as a development position toward future Plant Manager responsibilities. Openness to relocation is preferred.

What You’ll Do

• Lead day-to-day operations for a manufacturing value stream, ensuring safe production that meets quality, quantity, and delivery requirements.
• Improve productivity and reduce waste through continuous improvement initiatives aligned to EBITDA and cash targets.
• Increase labor efficiency and utilization, including staffing and overtime management.
• Optimize inventory turns and reduce aged inventory to support cash goals.
• Execute facility-level Voice of Customer initiatives; ensure customer specifications are consistently met or exceeded.
• Achieve on-time delivery targets and support onboarding of new and transferred business.
• Maintain standards for environmental, safety, working conditions, and cleanliness through daily oversight of the management team.
• Strengthen quality systems to reduce customer complaints.
• Ensure productivity targets are monitored and achieved across facility assets.
• Partner with maintenance to implement preventive maintenance and reliability programs.
• Manage operating spend against budget; oversee value stream maintenance budget.
• Support planning and coordination of facility capital projects.

Who You Are

• Solutions-oriented, hands-on leader with strong follow-through.
• Comfortable coaching leaders, building accountability, and maintaining engagement with hourly teams.
• Clear communicator with strong technical troubleshooting capability.
• Organized and effective in a fast-moving manufacturing environment.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Minimum 2 years of management experience.
• General knowledge of converting technologies.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong organization/project management skills and excellent written and verbal communication.
• Experience driving Lean Sigma, daily management processes, and other high-performance programs.
• Experience partnering with HR on hiring, training, performance management, and compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations.

Why This Role Matters

This position directly impacts site performance by driving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and team capability across a core value stream. The role offers strong visibility and is positioned as a key step in developing future plant leadership.