TX Operations Manager

Sherman, TX, USA|Travel, Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Job Description

Our client is a leading food and beverage manufacturing company known for its commitment to quality, safety, and operational excellence. Operating a high-speed beverage production and packing facility, this company consistently delivers top-tier products to its customers while maintaining a strong focus on lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste and optimize processes. They prioritize employee development, sustainability, and innovation to ensure continued growth and customer satisfaction within the competitive food and beverage industry.

The position of Operations Manager at the TX Plant is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing and directing the daily functions of the Make/Pack/Ship operations. This role involves managing high-performance teams working with advanced production and packing equipment to transform raw materials into finished products that meet rigorous safety, quality, and regulatory standards. The Operations Manager plays a pivotal role in aligning operational activities with company goals, ensuring effective resource planning, staff training, and adherence to lean management principles.

Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, the Operations Manager is part of the site’s Leadership Team, influencing strategic decisions and operational priorities. This role requires hands-on leadership, with involvement in coaching employees, setting performance standards, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. The Operations Manager is charged with maintaining a clean, safe, and efficient work environment while ensuring compliance with food safety and manufacturing regulations including FDA, SQF, HACCP, as well as OSHA safety standards.

An integral aspect of the role includes driving productivity improvements through lean tools to eliminate waste and enhance cost-effectiveness. The Operations Manager must ensure that production lines run efficiently with accurate inventory management and timely maintenance of equipment. They also oversee operational budgeting and cost control measures, striving to meet cost targets without compromising performance or safety.

Moreover, the Operations Manager champions employee development by serving as a mentor and coach, helping to build skills within the team and fostering leadership capabilities at all levels. They are expected to coordinate communications throughout the plant and with corporate entities, ensuring alignment and rapid response to operational issues. This role occasionally requires physical labor and travel to support other sites for kaizens or project implementations.

Overall, this position demands a highly organized, proactive leader with strong expertise in lean manufacturing, quality assurance, and team management. The successful candidate will possess a demonstrated ability to manage complex manufacturing operations in fast-paced environments, preferably within the food and beverage sector. Their leadership will directly contribute to enhancing operational efficiency, product quality, and employee engagement, thereby driving the company’s continued success and customer satisfaction.

Job Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in food and beverage industry
Experience in project management
Working knowledge of FDA, SQF, HACCP, OSHA, and GMP regulations
Proficient in managing maintenance activities and execution focusing on high performance
Experience in high-speed beverage production and automated packing equipment
Ability to perform physical labor occasionally, including moving cases and carrying parts
Willingness to travel periodically to other sites for kaizens or projects
Experience with Rockwell and Wonderware programming software is a plus but not required

Job Qualifications

Proven experience leading and driving results improvement using lean systems tools
Working knowledge of FDA regulations, SQF, HACCP, and GMP manufacturing requirements
Working knowledge of OSHA safety regulations and requirements
Demonstrated ability in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other applicable software
Experience managing and coordinating multiple complex projects
Strong planning and organizational skills
Experience as a lead change agent
Ability to coach, lead, and develop leaders to ensure results improvement, focus, and contribution
Continual assessment and evaluation of skills and contributions to identify gaps versus required results
Six plus years of experience in manufacturing operations, warehouse, or technical roles with progressive leadership and successful track record
Knowledge and application of Lean / Six Sigma methodologies across supply chain
Food and beverage manufacturing experience preferred
Bachelor's degree in related field is a plus but not required

Job Duties

Set direction and drive results for the Make/Pack/Ship operations and all resources supporting the core operations, including inventory accuracy in transactions related to production of goods
Clarify priorities and use appropriate lean processes and tools to drive out wastes and improve the cost structure for the site
Ensure the right people are in the right roles with the right skills doing the right work with the right sense of urgency to improve results
Ensure adequate scheduling of staff
Ensure technicians are delivering maintenance expectations for the plant, including proactive maintenance
Ensure appropriate communications throughout the organization that drive action and support organizational priorities
Engage heavily in daily management activities with teams and individuals through hands-on leadership, coaching, and execution of work
Use and implement adequate and regular review processes to track and reinforce progress vs plans to close gaps
Be a champion and a role model for people development across the site
Hold self, individual employees, and collective teams accountable to deliver continuously improving results
Personally own and role model safety and quality systems and expectations with active leadership
Work effectively across plant and functional boundaries to ensure best solutions and practices
Lead and manage to ensure safe, quality production of valuable products to customers
Coach, teach, and develop team safety and quality leaders
Maintain a clean and orderly work environment
Report immediately to site quality leader all conditions that may risk food safety or quality
Responsible for maintenance safety and regulatory compliance including record keeping
Drive improvements in plant manufacturing operations
Continually drive OEE improvement to meet and sustain targets for each value stream
Lead/manage improvements across all aspects of making, packaging, and shipping
Lead, drive and use lean resources and tools to drive out wastes
Ensure standard work processes are followed and continually improved
Ensure kaizens are done to build skills and improve results
Track and develop operational and technical skill improvement and utilization
Serve as co-facilitator of the site leadership team
Support and help drive overall plant results including productivity, quality, cost, delivery, safety, and morale
Coordinate, prepare, and deliver site performance reports
Make recommendations for positive change involving process redesign and supply chain effectiveness
Be prepared to serve as backup to the plant manager in his absence
Support day-to-day results by flowing to the work and medium and long-term project work
Lead/own individual and team performance management and accountability systems for direct reports
Other duties as assigned