Senior Operations Manager, Manufacturing New Thornton, CO

Meati; Thornton (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

Meati is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to oversee manufacturing policies and ensure product quality and efficiency. This role requires extensive experience in food manufacturing and leadership skills to implement continuous improvement strategies. You will lead a diverse team, manage budgets, and ensure compliance with safety regulations while driving manufacturing excellence.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

401K with company match

Generous Time Off and Floating Holidays

Mental health programs at no cost

Parental Leave and Short-Term & Long-Term Disability coverage

Life/AD&D insurance

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in food manufacturing operations.
• At least 3 years in a managerial or supervisory role.
• Proven track record in production efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and develop team engagement.
• Manage manufacturing operations to ensure quality and schedule.
• Implement budget preparation and cost control.

Skills

Leadership

Problem Solving

Communication

Project Management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Operations Management

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Senior Operations Manager, Manufacturing

Thornton, CO

The Role:

As Senior Manager of Operations at Meati, you will be responsible for implementing manufacturing policies and programs that guide our plant in maintaining and improving its competitive position and profitability. This role directly oversees safety, manufacturing, and quality and will work collaboratively across the organization. Successful candidates will direct and coordinate these activities to manufacture products on schedule and within quality standards and cost objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and development to the team and create an engaging environment with clear responsibilities, defined goals and objectives, and visibility to weekly progress reporting.
• Works collaboratively in a matrix organization.
• Partner with sales on demand planning to ensure that the upcoming needs are planned and able to be met and products are shipped on time, accurately, and completely.
• Responsible for keeping up to date on equipment changes, additions, and modifications.
• In partnership with the Senior Director of Manufacturing, is responsible for the annual budget, including capital expenditures, and directs preparation of cost control reports, cost estimates, labor, and facilities requirements forecasts.
• Transform company culture to one of Continuous Improvement and Accountability. Develop, recommend, and support lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement throughout the facility.
• Formulates and installs standard manufacturing practices based on comparative studies of methods, costs, and production figures.
• Identify and develop process improvement champions to continuously review and improve efficiencies and processes.
• Directs the manufacture of products at the lowest cost consistent with established specifications as to quality and quantity.
• Establishes inventory controls and ensures inventory turn metrics are achieved.
• Responsible for keeping up to date on equipment changes, additions, and modifications that may require a change in scope for the operations team.
• Comply with all applicable OSHA, EPA, local regulatory laws, and company safety policies.
• Ensure all team members comply with all applicable OSHA, EPA, local regulatory laws, and company safety policies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in food manufacturing operations, with at least 3 years in a managerial or supervisory role.
• Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale food manufacturing operations, with a strong focus on production efficiency, quality control, and cost optimization.
• Extensive knowledge of food safety regulations (e.g., FDA, USDA) and experience implementing food safety and sanitation protocols in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively lead and motivate a diverse team to achieve common goals.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a data-driven approach to process improvement and optimization.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in using ERP systems and other manufacturing software for production planning, inventory management, and reporting.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively communicate with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent training in continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience working in a regulated food manufacturing environment (e.g., HACCP, GMP).
• Familiarity with sustainability initiatives and practices in food manufacturing.
• Previous experience implementing automation and technology solutions to improve manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of international food safety and quality standards (e.g., ISO 22000).

**Don’t meet every single requirement?Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Meati we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.**

Compensation:
The base salary range for this role is $120,000 - $158,000 annually. Actual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401K with company match
• Generous Time Off and Floating Holidays
• Mental health programs at no cost
• Parental Leave, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability coverage, and Life/AD&D

Equal Employment Opportunity: Meati is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

At Meati, we are committed to the highest quality and food safety standards. We expect our employees to comply with all relevant FDA requirements and external certifications (e.g. Kosher, Halal, etc.), where applicable.

About Meati

Based in Colorado, Meati is on a mission to build Good Energy from the ground up. Meati is a new, whole food made from nutrient-dense mycelium, delivering high-quality protein, dietary fiber, great taste, and much more. We work closely with Mother Nature to cultivate the complete protein she intended — one that’s been the root of our living world for millennia. We believe food should be simple, clean, and of course, delicious, which is why grow and nourish our mycelium to create nutrient-rich, whole food protein everyone can enjoy. Get to know more about Meati atmeati.com .

Our team is passionate about making the world a better place through good health and wellness, positive climate impact, and equitable access to nutrition around the world. This passion translates into the culture of our office, making Meati a lively, enjoyable, innovative, and inclusive place to work. This is an exciting time to be a part of the Meati team and the growing plant-based and alternative protein category.

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