Operations Manager, Bakery

Client : Well-established bakery manufacturer
Title : Operations Manager, Bakery
Salary : $140,000-$160,000
Location : Swedesboro, NJ

Job Description:
Currently partnered with an industry-leading commercial bakery manufacturer to hire a Senior Manager, Bakery Production for a flagship facility in Swedesboro, NJ.

The Senior Manager, Bakery Production will lead manufacturing operations at a high-volume bakery facility, driving performance across safety, food quality, production throughput, waste reduction, and team development. This individual will play a critical role in executing operational strategy, supporting continuous improvement initiatives, and building a strong culture of accountability and engagement.

Responsibilities:

• Lead daily manufacturing operations in a 24/7 production environment
• Drive performance across safety, quality, productivity, waste reduction, and labor efficiency
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with broader business goals
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives involving line speeds, changeovers, and process optimization
• Manage departmental budgets, labor planning, and resource allocation
• Coach, develop, and lead high-performing production teams
• Ensure compliance with GMPs, regulatory requirements, and audit readiness standards
• Support capital projects, digitization efforts, and future capacity planning initiatives

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• 5-7+ years in food, beverage, bakery, pharmaceutical, or other GMP-regulated manufacturing environments
• 3+ years of plant leadership experience (line-level or area-level leadership acceptable)
• Experience leading within a 24/7 production environment
• Strong leadership, coaching, and communication skills
• Proficiency with SAP, Excel, and operational reporting/analytics
• Ability to interpret schedules, procedures, safety standards, and present effectively to teams

Preferred Experience :

• Direct bakery production experience (mixing, proofing, baking, packaging)
• Lean / Six Sigma / Kaizen or other continuous improvement training
• Experience supporting capital projects or major line upgrades
• Spanish language skills a plus

Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

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Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.