Operations Manager

Phoenix, AZ, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan

Career Development

Employee assistance program

Disability insurance

Job Description

We are a global leader in food and beverage ingredients, dedicated to pioneering innovations that align with emerging consumer trends. Our company operates at the forefront of the industry, supplying food and beverage manufacturers with high-quality products and ingredients designed to delight consumers worldwide. Committed to making a positive impact on people and the planet, we maintain a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our raw materials are sourced. This proximity to farmers ensures superior quality control, a more reliable supply chain, and greater transparency and traceability throughout our operations. Beyond merely supplying ingredients at scale, we add exceptional value by offering a unique and complementary portfolio of natural, delicious, and nutritious products that enable our customers to create food and beverage items that are both sensory-rich and functional.

Our product range focuses on core categories such as cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts, and spices. We help our customers unlock the best attributes of these ingredients so they can develop naturally good food and beverage products that resonate with today’s discerning consumers. Our company culture revolves around a commitment to authenticity and impact — a principle encapsulated in our motto, "make it real." This reflects our dedication to integrity, quality, and sustainability in every aspect of our operations.

We are currently seeking an experienced Operations Manager to join our team, reporting directly to the Plant Manager. The Operations Manager will play a pivotal role in overseeing key functional areas within our manufacturing operations. This position is essential for ensuring that production flows smoothly across departments and that operational challenges are swiftly and effectively addressed with collaboration from leaders and employee teams. Daily interaction with various departments within the organization is a core part of this role, facilitating communication and driving alignment across functions.

The Operations Manager will be responsible for supervising manufacturing activities within the assigned area, managing production schedules, maintaining the quality of work, planning task assignments, and ensuring that employee training, selection, development, and discipline are conducted efficiently and fairly. The candidate must thrive in a team-oriented environment, demonstrating strong leadership skills by delegating tasks appropriately, motivating employees, and making necessary adjustments to meet production targets. Organizational skills, attention to detail, self-motivation, and excellent communication capabilities are key attributes for success in this role.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to impact the operational effectiveness of a global leader in the food and beverage ingredient sector. The Operations Manager will be instrumental in driving continuous improvement initiatives, championing lean manufacturing principles, and fostering a positive workplace culture that emphasizes safety, quality, and productivity. If you are passionate about leadership, operational excellence, and contributing to products that make a real difference to consumers and communities, we invite you to consider joining our team.

Job Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Processing, Engineering, Food Science or Business Administration is preferred, or 4 years of equivalent leadership manufacturing experience in lieu of degree
Minimum five years progressive manufacturing management experience is required, preferably in food manufacturing
Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred
Proven ability to effectively manage and train teams is required
Excellent planning and general management skills are required
Knowledgeable of Continuous Improvement, 5S/6S Lean Manufacturing is preferred
The ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, is required
Good computer skills are required
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint are required
This role is performed on site at a facility that regularly processes tree nuts
Employees in this position will routinely work in areas where tree nuts and related allergens are present and may be exposed by contact or in the air
Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the role

Job Qualifications

Bachelor degree in Food Processing, Engineering, Food Science or Business Administration preferred
Minimum five years progressive manufacturing management experience, preferably in food manufacturing
Proven ability to effectively manage and train teams
Excellent planning and general management skills
Knowledgeable of continuous improvement, 5S/6S lean manufacturing preferred
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written
Good computer skills including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Job Duties

Drive cross functional alignment and collaborate with maintenance, quality assurance, supply chain, HR and engineering to ensure seamless operational workflow and quick resolution of production bottlenecks
Develop standard operating procedures and drive continuous improvement to ensure consistency, efficiency and compliance across all shifts and teams
Champion lean manufacturing and continuous improvement tools by applying six sigma, 5S and root cause methodologies to reduce waste, improve throughput and enhance workplace organization
Strengthen workforce engagement by promoting a positive culture by recognizing performance, facilitating open communication, and leading shift handoffs
Maintain KPI dashboard for efficiency, downtime, yield, safety, and quality
Use real time data to communicate performance to leadership and drive accountability across teams
Ensure daily production meets all standards and production schedules
Work proactively to determine if goals will not be met and work with the team to adjust staffing levels as needed
Assist plant management to provide leadership, coaching, mentoring and guidance throughout floor level associates, focusing on talent acquisition, retention, and development
Actively coordinate materials and labor to achieve optimum capacity, yields and overall cost reduction
Responsible for safety, food safety, quality, product availability, customer service and cost performance within the facility by leading with a zero-injury mentality and partnering with Safety, Health, and Sustainability (SHS) representative to drive safety initiatives across the facility
Collect and analyze data to develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives to drive quality and/or production goals
Manage assigned teams to ensure they maintain plant and grounds in sanitary condition to achieve and assure ongoing Global Food Safety Initiatives (GFSI) certification
Set clear and meaningful performance expectations for direct reports as well as establishing performance objectives for dotted line responsibilities of manufacturing support and direct labor associates
Perform other duties as assigned