Vice President of Manufacturing

The Vice President of Manufacturing is a senior executive responsible for leading multi-site manufacturing operations and driving operational excellence across the business. Reporting directly to the CEO, this individual will play a key role in developing and executing the company's manufacturing strategy, ensuring the efficient production of high-quality products while meeting financial, operational, and customer objectives. This is a highly visible leadership position requiring a hands-on executive with a proven track record of leading complex manufacturing organizations, developing high-performing teams, and implementing best-in-class manufacturing practices. Key Responsibilities Lead all aspects of multi-site manufacturing operations, ensuring safety, quality, productivity, customer service, and cost performance across multiple facilities. Develop and implement manufacturing strategies, operating standards, and best practices that improve efficiency, scalability, and operational performance. Own the manufacturing budget, long-range operational planning, and capital expenditure process, while overseeing the successful execution of major capital projects. Drive continuous improvement initiatives across production, engineering, maintenance, scheduling, logistics, and manufacturing processes using Lean and operational excellence principles. Monitor plant performance through key operational and financial metrics, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs, and maximize plant performance. Partner closely with executive leadership to develop company-wide operational strategies and support long-term business growth. Provide leadership across Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, Production, Packaging, Sanitation, and Product Development, ensuring strong cross-functional collaboration. Develop and mentor manufacturing leaders, creating succession plans and building organizational capability across the business. Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and R&D to ensure successful commercialization of new products and alignment with customer requirements. Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, employee engagement, and operational excellence while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and regulatory compliance. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Food Technology, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline; Master's degree preferred. 15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within food or ingredient manufacturing, including responsibility for multiple manufacturing sites. Strong experience leading manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, quality, and capital project functions in a process manufacturing environment. Experience within dry mix, bakery ingredients, food ingredients, flour milling, seasonings, powdered products, or similar manufacturing environments is highly preferred. Demonstrated success leading large manufacturing organizations, managing significant operational budgets, and delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost. Strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, HACCP, SQF/BRC, food safety regulations, and quality management systems. Excellent executive leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization. Additional Information Executive leadership role reporting directly to the CEO. Multi-site manufacturing responsibility. Based in Los Angeles Dry mix or related process manufacturing experience is required. Travel up to 40% as needed to support manufacturing operations. #J-18808-Ljbffr