Vice President Operations

CareersInFood.com; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

CareersInFood.com seeks an experienced Vice President of Operations to head manufacturing operations, supply chain, maintenance/engineering, and quality/food safety for a growing food manufacturing organization. You will oversee plant performance, capital projects, and strategic initiatives to boost profitability and operational excellence.

Responsibilities include leading a cross-functional team, driving Lean and CI, ensuring USDA/FDA compliance, and partnering with executive leadership to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Animal Science, Operations Management, or related field.
• MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own plant budgets, cost controls, and P&L performance.
• Lead Production, Maintenance & Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Food Safety.
• Drive productivity, profitability, efficiency, quality, and customer service.
• Ensure production goals and customer demand are met.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Manage capital projects, automation, equipment upgrades, and ROI analysis.
• Establish and monitor KPIs and report to executive leadership.
• Ensure USDA/FDA, food safety, and employee safety compliance.
• Improve systems, staffing models, and use of plant resources.
• Support new product launches, process design, and production planning.
• Build and lead a high-performing operations leadership team.

Skills

Leadership

P&L ownership

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma/CI

Strategic planning

Operations analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Engineering/related field

MBA preferred

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Vice President of Operations to lead manufacturing operations, supply chain, maintenance/engineering, and quality/food safety for a growing food manufacturing organization.

This role will have full responsibility for plant performance, P&L, production, staffing, operational efficiency, food and employee safety, capital projects, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance. The VP of Operations will partner closely with executive leadership to drive profitability, productivity, quality, and long-term operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Own plant operating budgets, cost controls, and P&L performance
• Lead Production, Maintenance & Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Food Safety
• Drive productivity, profitability, efficiency, quality, and customer service
• Ensure production goals and customer demand are consistently met
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Manage capital projects, automation, equipment upgrades, and ROI analysis
• Establish and monitor KPIs and report operational performance to executive leadership
• Ensure compliance with USDA/FDA, food safety, employee safety, and company standards
• Improve systems, processes, staffing models, and use of plant resources
• Support new product launches, process design, and production planning
• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing operations leadership team
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, HR, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Animal Science, Operations Management, or related field; MBA preferred
• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
• Strong plant operations, P&L, and budget management experience
• Food manufacturing experience required
• Knowledge of USDA/FDA regulations and food safety requirements
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement
• Strong capital project, automation, and operational improvement experience
• Proven leadership, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills