Prepared Foods Head of Operations

Turlock, CA, USA|Travel

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Salary

Range $179,700.00 - $251,500.00

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Job Description

Foster Farms is a leading food company dedicated to creating great food and serving memorable moments to millions of families. With a strong commitment to quality, safety, and sustainability, Foster Farms has earned its reputation as one of the most trusted names in the food industry. The company’s mission focuses on empowering and nourishing the lives of those they serve by protecting and caring for their team, consumers, animals, and the environment. Foster Farms continuously strives for operational excellence and exceptional value for its customers, making it a sought-after employer in the food manufacturing sector.

The Prepared Foods Head of Operations at Foster Farms is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of five further-processing facilities specializing in ready-to-eat (RTE) products. The position demands a strategic leader who can plan, organize, and direct daily activities to maximize efficiency, safety, quality, and compliance. This role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams including safety, quality, engineering, compliance, and supply chain to achieve business objectives and close operational gaps. The candidate will be expected to manage the operational budget, execute lean manufacturing principles, and drive financial performance through effective profit and loss management.

This position offers a competitive salary range of $179,700 to $251,500 per year, depending on experience. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in lean manufacturing and a thorough understanding of SQF audits, OSHA, USDA, FDA, and Process Safety Management (PSM) regulatory standards. Additionally, the role requires exceptional financial acumen, a passion for developing high-performing teams, and a commitment to Foster Farms’ guiding principles known as ACTION: Accountability, Collaboration, Truth-Seeking, Initiative, Ownership, and Nimbleness.

The Head of Operations will be responsible for driving a high-performance culture that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and personal development while ensuring workplace safety and food safety standards are rigorously maintained. This leadership role also entails building and leading a diverse team of maintenance and reliability professionals committed to excellence in every operational decision. Success in this role is measured by safety audit scores, operational efficiency metrics, financial outcomes, team retention, and customer satisfaction. This is a significant opportunity for experienced food manufacturing leaders to make a meaningful impact in a respected company at the forefront of the ready-to-eat food industry.

Job Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing
Experience in ready-to-eat or USDA-regulated food production
Strong knowledge of safety and food safety regulations
Proven leadership and communication skills
Budget management experience
Ability to work in a dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities
Willingness to travel as needed
Commitment to Foster Farms ACTION principles

Job Qualifications

Relevant bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent work experience
Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing
RTE or USDA experience strongly preferred
Proven success in leading plant operations with responsibility for safety, quality, productivity, and financial results
Strong knowledge of people and food safety systems, regulations, compliance, and risk management
Proven leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Budget management, cost control, continuous improvement, operational excellence skills and KPI-driven performance management
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and execute tasks in a changing and demanding work environment
Travel based on business need throughout assigned facilities
Demonstrated alignment with Foster Farms ACTION principles

Job Duties

Develop, implement, and execute the operations strategy to achieve business goals and growth targets
Oversee the daily operation of ready-to-eat manufacturing including production, plant maintenance, quality control, warehousing, and wastewater management
Implement and maintain lean manufacturing principles to optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance productivity
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including safety, quality, engineering, compliance, and supply chain to meet business objectives and close operational gaps
Prepare and manage the operational budget including cost control and forecasting
Drive financial performance through effective P&L management identifying areas for improvement and operational efficiencies
Manage and report key performance indicators and operational metrics consistently attaining goals for safety, quality, cost, and productivity
Cultivate a high-performance culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and personal development
Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards including USDA, OSHA, and PSM as well as internal standards for safety, food safety, and environmental stewardship
Implement and enforce safety protocols to maintain a safe work environment for all team members
Build and lead a high-performing diverse team of maintenance and reliability professionals modeling Foster Farms ACTION principles