General Manager

Locally owned and operated since 1995, Winona Foods is proud to be a growing industry leader in innovative cheese manufacturing, converting, and distribution. We support a wide range of partners — from major dairy manufacturers to industrial and foodservice customers across the country.

Winona Foods — Imagine the Possibilities!



 

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the organization through a team of functional leaders.
• Establish priorities, objectives, and performance expectations that support the company's strategic and financial goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
• Lead, develop, and coach direct reports while strengthening organizational capability and succession readiness.

• Provide leadership and oversight for manufacturing operations, quality, engineering, and MRP/materials planning functions.
• Ensure operational performance meets or exceeds established objectives for safety, food safety, quality, productivity, customer service, and cost.
• Drive sustainable cost reduction initiatives through Lean Manufacturing, waste elimination, labor productivity improvements, process optimization, and operational excellence programs while maintaining safety, quality, and customer service objectives.
• Monitor key performance indicators and drive corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.

• Partner with the President and Senior Leadership Team to develop and execute business strategies that support sustainable growth and long-term success.
• Evaluate business opportunities by assessing manufacturing capabilities, operational requirements, risks, and constraints.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational capabilities, capacity, efficiency, and organizational effectiveness.
• Serve as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, providing operational insight and recommendations regarding business opportunities, capital investments, operational capabilities, capacity planning, and long-term business objectives.

• Lead the annual operating budget process for manufacturing functions and support achievement of financial objectives.
• Partner with Sales, Finance, and Procurement to evaluate business opportunities and support profitable growth.
• Translate business forecasts into labor, equipment, facility, inventory, and operational resource requirements.
• Identify, prioritize, and support capital investment projects that improve safety, quality, productivity, capacity, and profitability.
• Develop and execute plans to achieve annual productivity and cost savings targets through continuous improvement initiatives, automation, process redesign, and effective resource management.
• Monitor operational spending and resource utilization to ensure responsible financial stewardship.

• Evaluate manufacturing processes, equipment capabilities, and operational constraints to support future growth.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations to identify and implement automation, process improvement, and capacity expansion opportunities.
• Provide leadership in assessing bottlenecks, throughput improvements, operational scalability, and long-term manufacturing requirements.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing principles throughout the organization, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, employee involvement, standard work, visual management, and problem-solving.
• Establish and monitor productivity, yield, waste reduction, labor efficiency, and improvement initiatives to improve operational performance and profitability.
• Demonstrated success improving productivity, throughput, equipment utilization, yield, and operational efficiency.
• Support key customer relationships by balancing customer expectations with operational capabilities and business objectives.

• Has the authority to stop operations when food safety or product quality may be at risk
• Accountable for ensuring the site operates in compliance with BRCGS, regulatory, and customer food safety requirements.
• Ensures adequate resources are in place to maintain the Food Safety and Food Quality Management System.
• Reviews and approves key food safety programs (e.g., policies, procedures).
• Holds site leadership (Production, QA, Maintenance, Warehouse) accountable for compliance and performance, as well as effective investigation, resolution, and trending of customer complaints.
• Leads or participates in management review to ensure system effectiveness.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, Food Science, or a related field required.
• 10-15 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with increasing responsibility for operational and business performance.
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading through managers or functional leaders.
• Experience in food, dairy, ingredients, consumer packaged goods, or other process manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Experience developing and managing budgets, capital projects, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Experience evaluating manufacturing capabilities, capacity constraints, operational costs, and growth opportunities.

• Demonstrated track record of leading Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar operational excellence programs resulting in measurable cost savings, productivity gains, and operational improvements.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with Sales, Finance, Procurement, Engineering, and Quality functions.
• Experience reporting directly to ownership, a President, CEO, COO, or other senior executive leader preferred.
• Experience within a privately held manufacturing organization preferred.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect operational decisions to financial performance and long-term business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence through experienced managers and functional leaders.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to balance short-term operational demands and long-term business priorities.
• Thorough understanding of manufacturing operations, process improvement methodologies, capacity planning, and performance management.
• Ability to assess manufacturing capabilities, operational constraints, and capital investment opportunities to support business growth.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, continuous improvement methodologies, root cause analysis, and operational performance systems.
• Strong financial aptitude, including budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and operational cost management.
• Ability to translate customer opportunities and business strategies into operational plans and execution.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively engage employees, customers, vendors, and senior leadership.
• Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and limited direction.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, develop talent, and build high-performing teams.
• Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive business matters.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:
Winona Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to these protected characteristics. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs, ensuring a fair and equitable hiring process.