Food Manufacturing Operations Manager 1st Shift

Job Overview: The First Shift Operations Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating the day-to-day operations across Production, Quality Assurance, Warehouse, and Maintenance departments to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant food manufacturing under USDA oversight. This role ensures operational excellence by driving productivity, safety, food quality, and continuous improvement while adhering to HACCP, SQF, and company standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership:

·         Oversee daily plant operations across assigned departments to meet production goals and customer requirements.

·         Maintain clear and consistent communication with department management, supervisors and leads to align priorities and shift execution.

·         Ensure accurate completion of production records, quality documentation, and inventory reporting.

Food Safety & Quality Compliance:

·         Uphold USDA regulatory requirements, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP plan execution, and SQF protocols.

·         Serve as a key leader in the plant's food safety and SQF systems.

·         Partner with the QA team to promptly resolve non-conformances and implement corrective actions.

Team Management & Development:

·         Lead and mentor supervisors and front-line staff across production, quality, maintenance, and warehouse.

·         Conduct regular coaching, one-on-ones, and employee development planning.

·         Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Continuous Improvement & Efficiency:

·         Monitor and analyze KPIs related to safety, quality, throughput, waste, labor, and downtime.

·         Drive process improvements to optimize workflow, reduce costs, and improve yield.

·         Support and lead lean manufacturing or 5S initiatives as applicable.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

·         Collaborate with Accounting, HR, Procurement, and Sanitation to support operational needs and compliance.

·         Support product launches, new process rollouts, and capital projects in coordination with other departments.

Qualifications:

·         Education: Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Food Science, Engineering, or related field (preferred but not required).

·         Experience: 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, including USDA-inspected environments.

·         Experience in management and development with staff of over 100.

·         Experience working in a multi-shift environment and with communication between shifts.

·         Experience in developing and maintaining metrics and budgets.

Certifications:

·         Required: HACCP Certification

·         Preferred: SQF Practitioner or strong SQF system knowledge

Skills & Competencies:

·         Strong decision-making abilities.

·         Excellent knowledge of food safety and quality systems.

·         Proven ability to manage multiple departments and priorities.

·         Proficient in Microsoft Office and ERP systems.

·         Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.

·         Excellent organization and leadership skills.

·         Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

·         Experience with MS Office.

·         Ability to work weekends as needed.

Work Environment

Van’s Kitchen is a food manufacturing environment. You will be working in warm and cold conditions, in wet and dry environments with potentially dangerous equipment. Safety is our number one priority.