Director of Operations (Greater Chicago Area)

Director of Operations

Chicago, IL (relocation assistance offered on a case-by-case basis)

Compensation: 225K – 275K + bonus potential

About the Role

56-year custom food processing manufacturer is looking for a Director of Operations to take full ownership of day-to-day operations at its Chicago location. This is a newly created role, and it was built specifically to bring dedicated senior operational leadership to a facility that does everything by hand

This role will own the P&L and lead the full operation across quality, safety, supply chain, distribution, and manufacturing with roughly 7 direct reports and 75 hourly employees across 2 shifts. The right person will have an entrepreneurial mindset , thrive without a instruction, and be comfortable making decisions on the fly in a fast-moving organization where no two days look the same.

This is not a role for someone who has spent a career running long production runs at a large manufacturer. This operation is boutique with a high mix of handcrafted products.

Responsibilities

• Own the full day-to-day operations of the facility including manufacturing, quality, food safety, supply chain, logistics, and HR partnership
• Drive site P&L performance including gross margin, EBITDA, and working capital
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, capital budgets, and long-term strategic initiatives
• Lead and develop a senior leadership team across operations, quality, safety, and supply chain
• Ensure full compliance with SQF, HACCP, USDA, FDA, and customer quality and food safety standards
• Build organizational capability through coaching, succession planning, and talent development
• Present financial and operational performance updates to the President and ownership

Requirements

• BS/BA required, ideally in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a closely related field. MBA, Master's degree, PMP, or related advanced certifications are a plus
• 10+ years of senior leadership experience (Plant Manager, Director, GM, VP, etc) in food manufacturing is required
• Demonstrated success leading a manufacturing plant with full P&L accountability
• Strong financial acumen with P&L understanding and the ability to make sound operational and business decisions
• Experience working with ownership, and c-level leadership
• Analytical, data driven and strong background with ERP, MS office and related systems; Redzone experience is a plus
• Executive presence with the ability to lead through influence, accountability, and collaboration

Compensation and Benefits

• Performance-based bonus opportunity
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Relocation assistance available for the right candidate
• Travel up to 25% as needed

This is a role for someone who is ready to run a business, not just manage a department. If you have the experience, the presence, and the drive to lead a full operation and help shape the future of a growing food processing company, apply now and let's talk.