Vice President, Operations

MBC Talent Connections; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

MBC Talent Connections is sourcing a Vice President of Operations for a Washington, DC area food manufacturer. This onsite role leads plant operations, setting the vision for safety, quality, and productivity while building strong teams and systems to deliver results.

The successful candidate has hands-on food manufacturing leadership, drives continuous improvement, and partners with cross-functional leaders to meet growth and financial goals.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in progressive leadership in food manufacturing
• 5+ years in direct production or plant operations management
• Strong knowledge of food manufacturing processes, food safety, GMPs, quality systems, and compliance
• Experience leading high-volume or complex manufacturing operations
• Demonstrated success improving productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost
• Solid understanding of plant maintenance, equipment reliability, safety, and facility operations
• Proven ability to build, develop, and retain strong leadership teams
• Experience setting performance standards and driving a continuous improvement culture
• Sound business judgment, balancing operational needs with financial goals
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with manufacturing ERP systems

Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing operations and build a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support growth and financial objectives
• Oversee production, maintenance, quality, inventory, distribution, and related functions
• Set and track KPIs, budgets, and performance goals
• Improve throughput, efficiency, labor utilization, product quality, and operating costs
• Ensure all processes meet quality, food safety, regulatory, and customer standards
• Strengthen operational systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Drive projects that increase equipment reliability, facility performance, and production capacity
• Promote collaboration across manufacturing, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and distribution
• Coach and develop plant leaders and production management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

Master's degree or advanced business/operations education preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Manufacturing ERP systems

Job description

Vice President, Operations

Location: Washington DC Metro area (onsite daily)
Employment Type: Full-time
Compensation: $120,000 – $130,000 base salary, plus a full benefits package

The Opportunity

A privately held food manufacturer with global reach is looking for a Vice President, Operations to lead its plant operations. This is a high-visibility leadership role for an experienced food manufacturing executive. You will set the vision for safety, quality, and productivity, and build the teams and systems that deliver it.

Hands-on food manufacturing experience is essential for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all manufacturing operations and build a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support growth and financial objectives
• Oversee production, maintenance, quality, inventory, distribution, and related functions
• Set and track KPIs, budgets, and performance goals
• Improve throughput, efficiency, labor utilization, product quality, and operating costs
• Ensure all processes meet quality, food safety, regulatory, and customer standards
• Strengthen operational systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Drive projects that increase equipment reliability, facility performance, and production capacity
• Promote collaboration across manufacturing, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and distribution
• Coach and develop plant leaders and production management

Qualifications

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in food manufacturing
• 5+ years in direct production or plant operations management
• Strong knowledge of food manufacturing processes, food safety, GMPs, quality systems, and compliance
• Experience leading high-volume or complex manufacturing operations
• Demonstrated success improving productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost
• Solid understanding of plant maintenance, equipment reliability, safety, and facility operations
• Proven ability to build, develop, and retain strong leadership teams
• Experience setting performance standards and driving a continuous improvement culture
• Sound business judgment, balancing operational needs with financial goals
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with manufacturing ERP systems

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Master's degree or advanced business/operations education preferred

Preferred

• Bilingual (Spanish)

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k)
• Short-term disability
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Paid holidays

Work Requirements

• Must currently reside in the Washington DC Metro area
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. now and in the future without employer sponsorship