CA Operations Manager

Company:

Sabrosura Foods is one of the leading marketers of Hispanic products sold throughout the U.S. under the well-known brand names of Pancho’s, El Viajero, Reynaldo’s and La Morenita. We are dedicated to delivering authentic and high-quality products to our customers. Our passion lies in creating delicious, culturally inspired foods that connect people and cultures. Our drive for quality, authenticity, and innovation compels us to deliver exceptional products that celebrate the diverse cultures and tastes of our customers.

Job Summary:

As the Operations Manager for our food manufacturing plants, you are responsible for leading and optimizing day-to-day operational activities within both of the manufacturing facilities to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective production, storage, and movement of products. Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, this position provides leadership across Production and Warehouse operations and provides day-to-day operational direction to the Logistics Coordinator. The Operations Manager works closely with the Logistics Director, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and other cross-functional teams to achieve plant performance objectives.

The Operations Manager has primary responsibility for production execution, warehouse operations, operational flow, and oversight of logistics coordination and third-party logistics (3PL) activities. This position will drive continuous improvement initiatives, improve labor and equipment utilization, reduce waste and operating costs, and establish a culture of accountability, safety, teamwork, and operational excellence.

The Operations Manager serves as a key partner to the Plant Manager in the daily management of the facilities and is accountable for ensuring effective coordination and flow between production, warehouse, inventory, and logistics activities.

Job Responsibilities:

Operations & Production Leadership

· Provide operational leadership across two manufacturing plants, supporting daily production activities while driving safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

· Lead daily Production and Warehouse operations to ensure production plans, inventory requirements, and customer orders are executed safely, efficiently, and on schedule.

· Provide direction, coaching, and accountability to Production Supervisors, Leads, and the Warehouse Supervisor.

· Establish operational priorities based on production schedules, business needs, inventory requirements, and customer demand.

· Monitor production performance, labor utilization, overtime, yields, waste, downtime, and other key metrics; implement corrective actions as needed.

· Maintain a strong presence on the production floor and in the warehouse to identify bottlenecks, resolve issues, and support frontline leadership.

· Partner with Human Resources and operational leadership on staffing, workforce planning, employee relations, and performance management.

Warehouse, Logistics & 3PL

· Provide leadership and direction to the Warehouse Supervisor to ensure efficient warehouse operations, inventory control, material flow, staging, and loading.

· Ensure effective coordination between Production, Warehouse, and Logistics to support production schedules, finished-goods availability, and customer requirements.

· Directly supervise and provide day-to-day operational direction to the Logistics Coordinator and ensure effective communication between Production, Warehouse, Sales, drivers, and other stakeholders.

· Partner with the Logistics Coordinator to resolve delivery, scheduling, transportation, and customer-service issues that impact plant operations.

· Support the management and performance of third-party logistics (3PL) providers by monitoring service performance, addressing operational issues, and identifying improvement opportunities.

· Partner with the Logistics Director to align plant-level logistics activities with company-wide logistics strategies, policies, and initiatives.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

· Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity, improve process flow, reduce waste, minimize downtime, and lower operating costs.

· Utilize Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, root cause analysis, and other continuous improvement methodologies as appropriate.

· Identify and implement process improvements across Production, Warehouse, Logistics, and other operational areas.

· Analyze operational data and KPIs to identify trends, recurring issues, and opportunities for improvement; ensure corrective actions are implemented and sustained.

· Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational excellence.

Maintenance & Equipment Reliability

· Maintain a strong partnership with the Maintenance Supervisor to support equipment reliability, production uptime, and timely resolution of equipment-related issues.

· Collaborate with the Maintenance supervisor to prioritize repairs, preventive maintenance, reliability initiatives, and equipment improvements based on operational needs.

· Participate in root cause analysis of recurring equipment failures and support initiatives to reduce downtime and improve equipment reliability.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

· Promote compliance with all applicable food safety, quality, safety, and regulatory requirements, including GMPs, HACCP, SQF, FDA, USDA, OSHA, and company policies.

· Partner with Quality Assurance to address quality issues, investigate deviations, and implement corrective and preventive actions.

· Promote a safe work environment by identifying hazards, participating in incident investigations, supporting safety programs, and ensuring corrective actions are completed.

· Foster a culture in which food safety, product quality, and employee safety are shared operational responsibilities.

Performance, Cost & People Management

· Establish and monitor key operational performance indicators, including production efficiency, labor productivity, overtime, yield, waste, downtime, OEE, schedule attainment, inventory accuracy, on-time performance, safety, quality, and operating costs.

· Analyze operational performance and develop action plans to address gaps and improve results.

· Support the Plant Manager in managing operational costs, budgeting, forecasting, labor, overtime, material usage, waste, warehouse, and logistics expenses.

· Provide leadership, coaching, and development to frontline leaders; establish clear expectations and hold teams accountable for performance.

· Build a high-performing operational team through effective communication, coaching, employee engagement, and continuous learning.

Cross-Functional Leadership

· Serve as the primary local point of coordination between Production, Warehouse, and Logistics to support efficient end-to-end operational flow.

· Work closely with the Plant Manager, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Logistics, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Finance, Purchasing, and other functions to achieve plant objectives.

· Proactively communicate operational risks, constraints, performance, and improvement opportunities to the Plant Manager and appropriate stakeholders.

· Support plant-wide initiatives and other responsibilities as assigned by the Plant Manager.

Education and Experience:

· Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, Business or a related field preferred.

· Equivalent combination of education and directly related manufacturing experience will also be considered.

· Experience leading production and/or warehouse teams in a food manufacturing environment preferred.

· Experience with logistics, transportation, warehouse operations, and/or third-party logistics (3PL) strongly preferred.

Required Skills/Abilities:

· Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing operations, including production management, operational leadership, and process improvement.

· Strong knowledge of food safety regulations (e.g., FDA, USDA) and quality management systems (e.g., HACCP, GMP).

· Proven track record of driving operational excellence, cost reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives.

· Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

· Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.

· Demonstrated ability to lead teams and hold employees and frontline leaders accountable for performance.

· Proficiency in MS Office Suite, ERP systems and manufacturing software applications.

· Demonstrated ability to build strong cross-functional relationships and influence without relying solely on direct authority.

· Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Physical Requirements:

· Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

· Moderate degree of physical activity on a frequent basis

· Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

· Repetitive standing, walking, bending, twisting, stooping, grasping, climbing, reaching, and moving about the facility

· Hearing ability to meet manufacturing facility safety requirements

· Ability to work in high-noise areas while wearing appropriate hearing protection

· Vision abilities include close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception

· Able to work in a multi-shift environment

· Will be required to work around spices and meat ingredients as part of the daily activities

· Exposed to cold (40º)/ heat/ humidity

· Must be able to wear all required personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing job duties.