Senior Vice President Operations

Confidential; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company is seeking a Senior Vice President of Operations to oversee manufacturing, supply chain, and distribution. The role entails driving operational excellence and leading strategic initiatives. Ideal candidates should have 15+ years in manufacturing leadership, with a strong background in food production. This full-time executive position emphasizes strategic leadership and fostering a high-performance culture.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in manufacturing and operations leadership.
• 10+ years in a senior executive role.
• Strong background in food manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for operations.
• Oversee manufacturing, supply chain, and distribution functions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and capital projects.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational excellence

Safety management

Process improvement

Budget management

Cross-functional team leadership

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, or Operations Management

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Overview

The Senior Vice President of Operations will serve as a key executive leader overseeing all facets of manufacturing, supply chain, and distribution. This role is accountable for driving operational excellence, maintaining world-class standards of safety and quality, and delivering results aligned with the company’s ambitious growth goals. The SVP will spearhead initiatives to streamline processes, lead major capital projects, and cultivate a high-performance culture across a large-scale, complex operation. As a highly visible member of the executive team, this leader will partner closely with senior leadership to shape long-term strategy while ensuring consistent day-to-day execution and performance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for all manufacturing, supply chain, and distribution functions.
• Oversee manufacturing operations, ensuring safety, quality, productivity, and cost efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, implementing best practices in operational excellence.
• Lead capital projects, including new facility startups and equipment installations.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to align operations with overall business strategy.
• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and operational KPIs to achieve performance targets.
• Foster a culture of safety, quality, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing leadership team.
• Represent operations leadership in executive, board, and investor meetings.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing and operations, with at least 10 years in a senior executive role.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale manufacturing operations.
• Strong background in food manufacturing, with knowledge of processing operations, facility management, and large-scale production environments.
• Proven track record of delivering operational excellence, driving process improvements, and achieving cost efficiencies.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and building strong relationships across all levels of an organization.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, capital projects, and operational KPIs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Manufacturing and Strategy/Planning
• Industries: Food and Beverage Manufacturing