Operations Manager - Deli Slicing Only

The Judge Group, INC.; Souderton (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Judge Group, INC. is seeking an experienced Operations Manager for a food manufacturing site in the Souderton, PA area.

The role oversees daily plant operations on high-speed deli slicing, portioning, weighing, and packaging lines to achieve production targets and OEE goals. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of leadership in food manufacturing, hands-on experience with industrial slicing and packaging equipment, and strong knowledge of USDA/FDA, HACCP, and SQF/BRC standards.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of operational leadership in food manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed slicing and packaging lines.
• Strong knowledge of USDA, FDA, HACCP, SQF/BRC standards.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business/Operations/Engineering or equivalent.
• Lean/Six Sigma and ERP systems experience; able to work in cold environments (35–40°F).

Responsibilities

• Direct daily plant operations across high-speed deli slicing and packaging lines to meet targets and OEE goals.
• Monitor material utilization, minimize scrap and overweight margins.
• Oversee line balance of slicing machines and packaging systems with maintenance.
• Enforce USDA, FDA, HACCP, SQF/BRC compliance and sanitation in RTE environments.
• Lead and mentor production supervisors and operators, ensuring safety and training.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing principles to reduce downtime and changeover times.

Skills

Operational leadership

Lean/Six Sigma

ERP systems

Team leadership

Safety standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

Industrial slicing equipment (Weber/Formax/Treif)

Packaging machinery (Multivac/Ulma)

Job description

Growing food manufacturer in the Souderton, PA area is looking for a skilled Operations Manager to oversee daily manufacturing activities within their new deli slicing and meat packaging facility. This role is responsible for driving operational efficiency, optimizing throughput and yields, managing labor, and maintaining strict compliance with USDA, FDA, and food safety standards. The ideal candidate brings extensive leadership experience in food manufacturing, specifically with high-speed industrial slicers, automated packaging systems, and Ready-to-Eat (RTE) sanitary protocols.

Responsibilities

• Operational & Production Leadership: Direct daily plant operations across high-speed deli slicing, portioning, weighing, and primary/secondary packaging lines to meet production targets and OEE goals.

• Yield & Waste Management: Monitor raw material utilization, control product give-away/overweight margins, and minimize scrap across all slicing lines.

• Equipment & Process Optimization: Oversee the continuous operation and line balance of industrial slicing machines, interleavers, and thermoforming/flow-wrap packaging systems in partnership with the maintenance team.

• Regulatory & Quality Compliance: Enforce strict adherence to USDA, FDA, HACCP, and SQF/BRC regulations, ensuring rigorous environmental controls and sanitation standards in RTE cleanrooms.

• Team Leadership & Safety: Lead, mentor, and schedule production supervisors, line leads, and operators while maintaining a safe work environment and enforcing LOTO and OSHA standards.

• Continuous Improvement: Apply Lean Manufacturing principles (5S, Kaizen, SMED) to reduce downtime, shorten changeover times, and streamline workflows.

Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of operational leadership in food manufacturing, with direct experience in deli meat or cheese high-speed slicing and packaging environments.

• Technical Knowledge: Hands-on experience with industrial slicing equipment (e.g., Weber, Formax, Treif) and packaging machinery (e.g., Multivac, Ulma).

• Regulatory Expertise: Strong working knowledge of USDA guidelines, HACCP implementation, SQF/BRC standards, and RTE sanitation protocols.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Food Science, or Engineering—or equivalent practical manufacturing leadership experience.

• Skills & Environment: Proficiency in Lean/Six Sigma practices and ERP systems; ability to work regularly in a cold production environment (35°F–40°F). Preferred: Bilingual in English and Spanish.