Head of Operations & Business Management

Wonderful Citrus is North America’s leading integrated grower, shipper and packer of fresh citrus, including clementines/mandarins, navel and Valencia oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, and other citrus varieties. The company farms more than 74,000 acres of fresh citrus and has supplier relationships around the world to ensure a year‑round supply. Our citrus can be found in all channels of distribution, with our consumer brands most visible in the produce department of grocery stores worldwide under the flagship brands Wonderful Halos Mandarins, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, and Wonderful Sweet Scarletts Texas Red Grapefruit.

The Operations Supervisor is responsible for understanding all aspects of the Packing House operations from the time the fruit is received, processed, and finally shipped. This role is expected to develop individuals and teams to solve operational issues and motivate team members to achieve performance targets. The ideal candidate has experience within the agricultural industry, manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, and/or hands‑on experience managing perishable products. Candidates must be able to excel in a fast‑paced environment.

Responsible for achieving, sustaining, and continuously improving personnel safety, food safety, quality, line effectiveness, equipment optimization, personnel development, and financial results

Responsible for maximizing departmental production efficiencies while sustaining the highest of quality

Collaborates with upstream, downstream, and support departments in coordinating production activities to meet operational and business goals

Make timely and appropriate operational decisions based on multiple and varying factors (safety, time, fruit, staffing, budget, equipment, etc.)

Maintain an 80% floor presence and 20% administrative focus

Achieve production goals by maximizing Pack/Pre‑Sort efficiency, fruit utilization and reducing product holds and customer claims

Plan and manage the day‑to‑day headcount and staffing requirements by considering operational requirements and labor costs

Generate accurate production reports and analysis‑based production rates and statistics

Ensure team adherence and continuous improvement of all established operational procedures (i.e. shift start‑up, production run, handoff, shutdown and cleaning)

Manage the maintenance, cleaning, and operation of multiple types of manufacturing and packing equipment

Identify, develop, and support continuous improvement opportunities

Manage seamless transitions between one production shift to another as well as to the sanitation department

Ensure monitoring of, and adherence to, strategic FIFO and WMS inventory functionality across facility and within outside storage facilities

Manage day‑to‑day inventory systems, processes, and procedures to ensure achievement of key business results

Report daily inventories and FIFO position, exceptions, and outages; Coordinate inventory movement and storage across facilities, including external storage, as necessary

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Manufacturing, Business Management, or related field is desired, or equivalent managerial experience in a manufacturing environment

Minimum 2 years of experience leading teams in a high volume, fast‑paced food manufacturing environment preferred

Basic knowledge and some experience in succession planning, evaluation of talent, and building teams

Willingness to work in all areas of the facility

Ability to communicate fluently in English; Conversational Spanish is highly desired

Must be able to perform basic arithmetic and algebraic functions - knowledge of statistical analysis methods desired

Must be able to troubleshoot equipment/process problems, propose, and implement solutions

Experience with Oracle and Microsoft Office with advanced knowledge of Excel (pivot tables, formulas, charts, and graphs) is desired

Ability to work on a day or night shift with a flexible schedule that often includes weekends and holidays

Excellent organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks and meet constant deadlines with strong attention to detail and quality control

Ability to work in a team environment where honest communication, a positive attitude, engagement, and personal accountability is expected

Operational knowledge of food safety standards, regulations and compliance, OSHA, technical certifications and training, along with food manufacturing experience

Proven ability to deliver performance measures directly related to the business and competence to hold people accountable to such

Excellent customer service focus and results oriented

18 years of age or older

Pay Range: $70,304 - $80,000 and may include a discretionary bonus. On‑site Café - Convenient dining with fresh meal options

On‑site Gym - Stay active and healthy with access to our fully equipped fitness center

Growth & Career Advancement - Opportunities for professional development and career progression

Professional Mentorship - Learn from experienced professionals and grow your network

May include discretionary housing assistance

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories. EEO is the law.

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