Senior Operations Manufacturing Manager (Packaging Focused)

The Senior Manufacturing Packaging Manager is responsible for leading and transforming all packaging operations within a fast-paced food production environment, ensuring safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement across packaging lines and processes. This role will provide strategic and hands-on leadership during a critical period of organizational growth and transformation, driving operational excellence while building strong, high-performing teams.

The ideal candidate brings a strong food packaging background combined with engineering-based problem-solving capabilities, operational leadership, and the ability to lead through change. This individual must be both strategic and execution-focused, capable of identifying opportunities, solving complex operational challenges, and implementing sustainable improvements that support business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

- Lead daily packaging operations across multiple production lines to ensure safety, quality, attainment, and efficiency goals are achieved.

- Drive operational performance through effective leadership, accountability, and floor presence.

- Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Continuous Improvement teams.

- Develop and execute packaging strategies aligned with company growth initiatives and operational objectives.

- Ensure compliance with all food safety, GMP, HACCP, OSHA, and regulatory standards.

Team Leadership & Development

- Build, coach, and develop high-performing packaging leadership teams and frontline associates.

- Create a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

- Lead through organizational change and transformation initiatives with a positive and solutions-oriented mindset.

- Mentor supervisors and emerging leaders to strengthen leadership capability across the department.

- Support workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.

Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

- Identify operational inefficiencies and implement sustainable process improvements.

- Utilize data, metrics, and root cause analysis to drive decision-making and resolve complex operational challenges.

- Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, line optimization, labor efficiency, and throughput improvement.

- Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability and packaging performance.

- Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, and packaging innovation efforts.

Performance & Financial Management

- Monitor and manage departmental KPIs including safety, quality, downtime, labor utilization, waste, and OEE performance.

- Develop and manage departmental budgets and cost improvement initiatives.

- Drive productivity improvements while maintaining product quality and employee safety.

- Support inventory accuracy and packaging material management initiatives.

Qualifications

- Bachelors degree in Engineering, Packaging Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or related field preferred.

- Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience within food packaging or food manufacturing environments required.

- Strong engineering mindset with demonstrated analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

- Proven experience leading teams within a high-growth or transformational environment.

- Strong understanding of packaging equipment, automation, and manufacturing processes.

- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, or related methodologies preferred.

- Demonstrated ability to influence, lead change, and build strong cross-functional partnerships.

- Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills

- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving manufacturing environment