Senior Operations Manager

Alamance Foods; Burlington (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading supplier of whipped dairy products seeks a Senior Operations Manager to oversee production lines and drive operational excellence. This strategic role involves managing performance, safety, and quality across multiple shifts, ensuring adherence to lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in food manufacturing and a strong background in KPI analysis and team development.

Qualifications

• 7+ years progressive experience in food/beverage manufacturing.
• 3+ years in operations leadership.
• Proven track record in high-volume production environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations for production lines across three shifts.
• Define and maintain detailed KPIs for performance monitoring.
• Manage and develop supervisors and team leads.

Skills

KPI analysis

Lean tools

Six Sigma

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Food Science, or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

ERP/MES systems

Job description

Job Details

Company Background

Alamance Foods Inc. is a leading supplier of whipped dairy products in the United States, we produce,

pack and ship private labels based off customer specific needs. An innovative company with proven

experience in creating exciting new products that redefine what is possible in the food and beverage

manufacturing industry.

Position Opportunity

The Senior Operations Manager is a strategic leader responsible for driving performance, safety, quality,

and efficiency across Alamance Foods’ beverage and aerosol production lines. This role oversees end-toend operations across all shifts, ensuring operational excellence through lean manufacturing, continuous

improvement, and data-driven decision-making. The Senior Operations Manager is a key member of the

cross-functional leadership team and plays a critical role in executing strategic initiatives aligned with the

company’s long-term growth.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

I. Production Oversight & Line Management

a. Lead daily operations for all production lines, including aerosol (A-D), pops (A-E), water,

and drinks lines across three shifts.

b. Monitor runtime performance vs. planned shift quantities, ensuring output targets are

met or exceeded.

c. Oversee changeover execution and optimization, minimizing downtime and material loss.

II. KPI Ownership & Reporting

a. Define and maintain detailed KPIs: OEE, yield, waste, labor utilization, line speed, and

first-pass quality.

b. Review daily, weekly, and monthly dashboards; initiate corrective actions where

performance deviates from benchmarks.

c. Develop action plans from downtime, efficiency, and labor data to drive continuous

improvement.

III. Leadership & People Development

a. Manage, coach, and evaluate supervisors and team leads across all production shifts.

b. Create a culture of accountability and recognition through performance reviews,

coaching, and employee engagement.

c. Drive talent development through cross-training programs, succession planning, and

upskilling initiatives.

IV. Operational Excellence & Lean Implementation

a. Lead plant-wide Lean Manufacturing initiatives: 5S, SMED, value stream mapping, and

visual management.

b. Standardize SOPs and job methods; work with QA and R&D to align procedures with

product requirements.

c. Collaborate on layout adjustments and equipment modifications to optimize material and

personnel flow.

V. Safety & Compliance

a. Ensure a culture of safety by upholding safety protocols, performing regular audits, and

leading incident investigations.

b. Partner with Safety, Quality, and Engineering teams to drive plant compliance with OSHA

and internal standards.

c. Maintain hygiene zoning standards, line segregation, and allergen/contaminant controls in

production areas.

VI. Cross-Functional Collaboration

a. Act as the operations liaison for Planning, Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Engineering,

Warehouse, and Logistics teams.

b. Work with scheduling to balance line capacity, optimize product sequencing, and reduce

bottlenecks.

c. Partner with Engineering and Maintenance for preventive maintenance scheduling and

root cause problem solving.

VII. Cost & Waste Management

a. Monitor and reduce material loss, rework, and scrap across all lines and shifts.

b. Track and control variable labor and line downtime cost drivers.

c. Support cost-saving initiatives in materials, utilities, labor, and asset utilization.

VIII. Project & Capital Implementation

a. Lead or support capital projects for equipment upgrades, line extensions, and

automation.

b. Execute pilot trials and validations for new product launches or process changes in

conjunction with R&D and Engineering.

c. Deliver ROI assessments and post-installation reviews for major initiatives.

IX. System & Technology Optimization

a. Leverage MES/ERP systems for performance tracking, real-time decision-making, and

downtime recording.

b. Partner with IT and analysts to improve data integrity, reporting accuracy, and system

integration.

c. Identify opportunities for automation, sensor deployment, or data collection

enhancements.

X. Quality & Regulatory Alignment

a. Ensure production meets internal quality specifications and customer expectations.

b. Respond to quality deviations with structured containment, corrective action, and

documentation.

c. Collaborate with QA and HACCP team members to maintain product safety and

specification compliance.

Performance Metrics:

• Line Efficiency & OEE Improvement

• Downtime Reduction & Root Cause Closure Rate

• Throughput & Schedule Attainment

• Labor Productivity per Shift

• Safety Incidents & Corrective Action Completion

Qualifications

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Food Science, or related field (MBA preferred).

• 7+ years progressive experience in food/beverage manufacturing, with 3+ years in operations

leadership.

• Proven track record of leading high-volume, 24/7 production environments.

• Proficient in KPI analysis, lean tools, Six Sigma, and ERP/MES systems.

• Strong interpersonal, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Related Experience:

• Experience managing aerosol or beverage lines (filler, flavor injector, pasteurization).

• Familiarity with preventive maintenance programs, line balancing, and production scheduling.

• Understanding of food safety practices relevant to shelf-stable RTE products

Travel Requirements: Travel required within 7 DCs in North Carolina, additional overnight travel may be

required minimally.

Physical Requirements:

• Standing

• Walking

• Sitting

• Use of hands, fingers

• Reaching with hands and arms

• Climb and balance

• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl

• Talk and hear

• Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)

• Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)

• Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right

while eyes are fixed on a given point)

• Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)

Alamance Foods Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons because

of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, gender, ethnic or national origin, or veteran status. Alamance

Foods Inc. prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate

applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees

with a disability.