Senior Operations Leader - Food Manufacturing & Growth

The People Co.; Lakeland (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits package

Leadership exposure to executive team

Job summary

The People Co. is seeking a Senior Director of Operations to lead our manufacturing operations across North America, driving operational excellence and growth. The role focuses on safety, quality, service, and cost performance within production facilities.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in manufacturing operations, with a track record in food or beverage, Lean and Continuous Improvement, and strong leadership and cross-functional teamwork skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent industry experience required.
• 10+ years of manufacturing operations experience, with 5+ years in senior leadership.
• Experience in food or beverage manufacturing and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all manufacturing operations (Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, Planning, Warehouse).
• Drive safety, food safety, quality, service and cost performance.
• Set daily, weekly and monthly operating rhythms with clear KPIs and accountability.
• Partner with Procurement, Planning, QA, HR and Commercial to align ops with business goals.
• Lead CI initiatives focusing on OEE, yield, labor productivity, waste, downtime.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Lean manufacturing

Operations management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business or related field

Job description

The People Co. is seeking a Senior Director of Operations to lead our manufacturing operations across North America, driving operational excellence and growth. The role focuses on safety, quality, service, and cost performance within production facilities.

Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in manufacturing operations, with a track record in food or beverage, Lean and Continuous Improvement, and strong leadership and cross-functional teamwork skills.