Head of Operations & Business Management

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

Position Summary: The Unit Operations Manager oversees all aspects of production operations within a designated unit at the Grottoes facility. This role ensures efficient, safe, and cost-effective manufacturing that meets quality standards and production goals. The Operations Manager leads a team of supervisors and hourly employees to drive performance, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.

Manage daily production operations to meet safety, quality, cost, and delivery targets.

Develop and implement strategies to optimize equipment utilization, labor efficiency, and material use.

Ensure compliance with safety policies, regulations, and environmental standards.

Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) for production, yield, scrap, downtime, and labor efficiency.

Coordinate with maintenance, engineering, quality, and planning teams to ensure smooth production.

Ensure training programs are in place to support operational excellence and safety awareness.

Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for production issues.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other methodologies.

Manage budgets, capital projects, and operational expenses within the unit.

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, business, or a related field required.

7+ years of manufacturing operations experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.

Demonstrated ability to analyze data, develop action plans, and deliver results.

Solid understanding of production planning, inventory control, and process improvement.

Proficiency with SAP, ERP, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Skills: Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification; experience in plastics or packaging manufacturing; Labor relations and union experience is preferred; bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance, as well as programs focused on mental, physical, and financial health. Community Engagement

Novolex supports local communities through our Focused Giving Program, prioritizing organizations aligned with sustainability initiatives or hunger relief. Facility-level involvement in community activities is encouraged.

Training and Development

We provide opportunities for advancement through skills development, education programs, and courses via MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, Tuition Reimbursement (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports employee skill development at all levels.

Novolex is committed to equal employment opportunity in all practices and prohibits discrimination based on age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Individuals who require accommodation in the application process should contact View email address on click.appcast.io.