Manufacturing Operations Manager
Our client is a well-established, privately held food manufacturer with decades of success serving retail, foodservice, distributor, institutional, and industrial customers across the United States. Operating from a modern Southern California production facility, the company specializes in a diverse portfolio of value-added protein, prepared food, and frozen meal solutions, supported by extensive processing, cooking, packaging, and product development capabilities.
Job Description
- Direct daily manufacturing operations to meet production, quality, and service objectives
- Establish priorities that maximize efficiency while maintaining safety and compliance
- Drive labor optimization and productivity improvements
- Monitor key operational metrics and implement corrective actions when necessary
- Improve communication and coordination between 1st and 2nd shift operations
- Lead employee engagement, coaching, performance development, and succession planning efforts
- Collaborate with maintenance and sanitation teams to ensure production readiness
- Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, waste reduction, and cost savings
- Prepare operational reports and present performance results to senior leadership
- Partner with HR on employee relations initiatives and workforce development
MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.
The Successful Applicant
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- 8+ years of manufacturing experience, ideally within food or beverage production
- 10+ years of leadership experience managing supervisors and frontline teams preferred
- Proven track record improving safety, quality, service, and cost performance
- Strong understanding of budgeting, labor management, and operational metrics
- Knowledge of HACCP, SQF, BRC, GMPs, and food manufacturing compliance requirements
- Continuous Improvement or Lean/Six Sigma experience preferred
- Bilingual English/Spanish required
What's on Offer
- Competitive annual salary ranging from $110,000 to $135,000 USD.
- Comprehensive benefits package.
- High-impact leadership role with visibility to executive leadership
- Opportunity to influence plant performance and culture
- Stable and growing food manufacturing environment
Interested? Apply today.