Position: Production Operations Manager Location: California (Relocation Assistance Available)Category: Confidential Search – Industrial Food Ingredients
About the Company: Our client is a premier, large-scale manufacturer with a legacy of excellence in the food and ingredient sector. They operate a high-volume, 24/7 continuous production facility that serves a diverse global customer base. Due to strategic growth, they are seeking a high-accountability leader to oversee their multi-shift operations.
Position Overview: The Production Operations Manager will lead end-to-end manufacturing activities, ensuring safety, quality, and output targets are met in a fast-paced, process-driven environment. This role is responsible for directing a team of front-line supervisors and driving a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Operational Leadership: Manage daily manufacturing activities across a complex, multi-stage production environment
- Team Development: Directly lead, mentor, and hold accountable a team of shift supervisors to ensure peak performance across all production cycles
- Cost & Resource Management: Optimize material yields and facility resource efficiency to meet strict budgetary and operational KPIs
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to minimize downtime and ensure product integrity
- Safety & Compliance: Champion a safety-first culture and ensure full compliance with all regulatory and industry standards
Requirements:
- 5+ years of leadership experience in a refinery or process-intensive manufacturing environment — food, chemical, or industrial refining backgrounds strongly preferred
- Direct experience leading and managing supervisors is a firm, non-negotiable requirement
- Bachelor's degree required; Engineering background (Chemical, Mechanical, or Industrial) highly preferred
- Hands-on leader who thrives on the shop floor with the range to drive accountability at all levels
- Must be comfortable in a 24/7 continuous operation with a rotating shift structure (Day, Swing, and Night)
- Stable and progressive work history required
Compensation:
- Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience
- Annual performance bonus
- Comprehensive benefits and relocation package