Senior Operations Manager (Manufacturing)

Senior Operations Manager, Manufacturing

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Senior Operations Manager, Manufacturing (Packaging) to lead initiatives that strengthen operational performance, improve organizational effectiveness, and support sustainable growth within a dynamic manufacturing packaging environment.

This role will provide leadership across key operational areas, partnering closely with site leadership and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, remove barriers, improve processes, and drive measurable results. The successful candidate will bring a strong combination of operational leadership, problem-solving, continuous improvement, and change management capabilities.

This is a highly visible leadership position for an individual who can translate strategy into execution, establish accountability, influence across functions, and build a culture of continuous improvement and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and drive operational effectiveness initiatives across the manufacturing packaging facility, with a focus on safety, quality, service, productivity, cost, and overall performance.
• Partner with operational and functional leaders to identify opportunities for improvement and develop practical, sustainable solutions.
• Establish clear performance expectations, metrics, and accountability mechanisms to drive results.
• Analyze operational performance, identify trends and root causes, and translate data into actionable improvement strategies.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives designed to improve efficiency, reduce waste, optimize processes, and increase organizational capability.
• Facilitate cross-functional problem solving and ensure improvement initiatives move from identification through implementation and sustainment.
• Influence leaders and teams at multiple levels of the organization, building alignment around priorities and desired outcomes.
• Support organizational transformation by helping leaders and team members adopt new processes, systems, technologies, and ways of working.
• Develop and implement standardized processes and best practices that improve consistency and operational performance.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, and other functional teams to address complex business challenges.
• Monitor key performance indicators and provide leadership with clear visibility into operational performance, opportunities, risks, and progress.
• Coach and develop leaders and team members in problem-solving, accountability, continuous improvement, and performance management.
• Challenge existing processes and assumptions while maintaining strong relationships and building organizational commitment to change.
• Ensure improvement efforts are aligned with business objectives and deliver measurable, sustainable results.
• Lead through ambiguity and change while maintaining a strong focus on execution and operational discipline.

Leadership Expectations

The successful candidate will be a visible and influential leader who:

• Leads with accountability and follows through on commitments.
• Creates clarity around expectations, priorities, and performance.
• Builds trust while appropriately challenging the status quo.
• Influences through relationships, expertise, data, and sound business judgment.
• Develops people and builds capability rather than simply solving problems for the organization.
• Can operate effectively at both the strategic and tactical levels.
• Demonstrates resilience and adaptability in a changing manufacturing environment.
• Brings energy, urgency, and ownership to complex business challenges.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience within a packaging manufacturing environment.
• Experience within food packaging consumer products in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading operational improvement, continuous improvement, manufacturing packaging operations, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead through influence and establish accountability across multiple functions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to translate data into action.
• Demonstrated experience leading change and implementing new processes or operating practices.
• Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with competing priorities.
• Strong communication, presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with leaders and employees at all levels of an organization.
• Experience within food, packaging, consumer products, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.