Strategic Plant Operations Leader

Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages LLC seeks a Director of Manufacturing Operations (Plant Director) to lead the Philadelphia Production Center, guiding Production, Maintenance, QA, Inventory, Engineering, and CI to deliver safe, efficient, and cost‑effective beverage production. This role partners across Supply Chain, Planning, Sales, Logistics, HR and Quality to drive growth and customer satisfaction.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in beverage/CPG manufacturing leadership, with 5+ years overseeing

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership in beverage/CPG environments.
• Minimum 5 years leading multiple manufacturing functions through managers and supervisors.
• Experience in unionized environments preferred.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, Operational Excellence preferred.
• Experience managing capital projects and large operational budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead Philadelphia facility to meet safety, quality, service, cost, and productivity targets.
• Drive daily, weekly, and monthly operating reviews for operational excellence.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, GMPs, OSHA, and regulations.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Planning, HR, Quality to support growth and capability.
• Identify and implement productivity improvements and capital investments.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Operational Excellence

Financial Acumen

SAP

Communication

Team Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field

MBA or Engineering Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Liberty

At Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages LLC, we're committed to creating a workplace that reflects the vibrant communities we serve; where every associate feels valued, supported, and inspired to grow. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in them through a culture grounded in safety, integrity, collaboration, and innovation. With competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription, 401K and more), and a focus on learning and advancement, we empower our teams to lead with courage, drive results, and foster success. Join a company where you can help us refresh and celebrate the moments of today while creating the possibilities of tomorrow.

Summary

The Director, Manufacturing Operations (Plant Director) is responsible for leading all manufacturing activities at Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages' Philadelphia Production Center. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across Production, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Inventory Control, Engineering, and Continuous Improvement functions to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production of high-quality beverages.

The Plant Director is accountable for achieving key performance indicators related to safety, quality, productivity, service, employee engagement, and financial performance while driving a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement. This leader partners closely with Supply Chain, Planning, Sales, Logistics, Engineering, Human Resources, and Quality teams to support business growth, customer satisfaction, and manufacturing capability.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the Philadelphia manufacturing facility, ensuring alignment with Liberty Coca-Cola's strategic objectives.
• Deliver plant performance against established safety, quality, service, cost, and productivity targets.
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly operating reviews to drive operational excellence and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with Coca-Cola quality standards, food safety requirements, GMPs, and all regulatory requirements.

Safety & Quality

• Champion a world-class safety culture by ensuring compliance with all OSHA, environmental, and Liberty Coca-Cola safety standards.
• Lead initiatives that reduce safety incidents, improve risk identification, and strengthen associate engagement in safety programs.
• Partner with Quality Assurance leadership to maintain product integrity, consumer safety, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure corrective actions are implemented effectively and sustainably.

Manufacturing Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Operational Excellence, and root cause problem-solving methodologies.
• Optimize production capacity, labor utilization, line efficiency, changeover performance, waste reduction, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Lead plant productivity initiatives that improve operational performance while reducing costs.
• Identify and implement best practices across manufacturing operations.

Financial & Business Management

• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets.
• Ensure achievement of financial objectives related to labor, materials, maintenance, utilities, and operating expenses.
• Evaluate capital investment opportunities and develop business cases supporting productivity improvements, capacity expansion, and asset reliability.
• Monitor and improve plant financial performance through effective planning and resource allocation.

People Leadership

• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership team.
• Provide coaching, development, and succession planning for managers and supervisors.
• Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion, teamwork, and employee engagement.
• Lead labor relations activities in partnership with Human Resources, including union interactions where applicable.

Supply Chain & Technology

• Partner with Planning, Logistics, Procurement, and Commercial teams to align production plans with customer demand.
• Leverage SAP and manufacturing systems to improve visibility, inventory accuracy, production planning, and operational performance.
• Support digital transformation and technology initiatives that enhance manufacturing effectiveness and decision-making.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• Master's Degree (MBA or Engineering discipline) is a plus.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in beverage, food, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or other high-speed production environments.
• Minimum 5 years leading multiple manufacturing functions through managers and supervisors.
• Demonstrated success managing safety, quality, maintenance, production, and financial performance within a large-scale manufacturing facility.
• Experience operating within a unionized environment preferred.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, TPM, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence methodologies preferred.
• Strong experience managing capital projects and large operational budgets.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of beverage manufacturing, packaging, maintenance reliability, and supply chain operations.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and drive business results.
• Excellent financial acumen, budgeting, and strategic planning skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Advanced communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
• Proficiency with SAP, manufacturing systems, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Commitment to creating an inclusive, diverse, and engaging workplace culture.

Preferred Leadership Competencies

• Safety First Leadership
• Strategic Thinking
• Operational Excellence
• Results Orientation
• Talent Development
• Change Leadership
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Financial Accountability
• Continuous Improvement Mindset
• Customer Focus

Additional Information

Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

For additional information, please visit our company website at http://www.libertycoke.com/