Value Stream Operations Manager, Food-Grade Plastics

A day in the life

You arrive with a safety-first plan, align supervisors on the day’s risk controls, and walk the floor to make sure every line is set up to run safely and to standard. Throughout the shift, you scan dashboards for efficiency, downtime, labor utilization, scrap, and schedule attainment across your departments in a 24/7 environment. You coach, you ask 5 Whys, and you remove roadblocks. By afternoon, you’re facilitating a Kaizen follow-up, reviewing corrective actions, and checking that GMPs are firmly in place for food-grade production. You close the day translating plant strategy into next-step actions, communicating wins and gaps up and down the organization, and preparing your team for the next shift.

Safety leadership

• Model and enforce a safety-first mindset; embed safety into every operational choice and priority.
• Ensure compliance with all safety policies, procedures, standards, and applicable regulations.
• Rapidly identify and correct unsafe conditions and behaviors; lead investigations and root-cause analysis with timely corrective and preventive actions.
• Partner with the Plant Manager and EHS to set and achieve site safety objectives; build a visible safety culture through floor presence and coaching.
• Verify employees are trained and accountable for safe work practices.

Production & execution

• Direct operations for assigned departments/product lines/profit centers within a continuous, 24/7 manufacturing operation.
• Lead up to 150+ salaried and hourly employees via clear planning, delegation, and performance accountability.
• Plan, schedule, and monitor production to meet targets for safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and efficiency.
• Optimize staffing, equipment, materials, and processes to fulfill customer and business commitments.
• Track and act on key metrics: efficiency, downtime, throughput, labor utilization, scrap, and schedule attainment.
• Communicate priorities, performance, and countermeasures effectively across all levels.
• Serve as a cross-trained backup to the Plant Manager; assume additional plant leadership as needed.

People leadership & team development

• Build a high-performing workforce through hiring, onboarding, training, recognition, and performance management.
• Set clear expectations and hold leaders and employees accountable for results, behaviors, attendance, safety, quality, and policy adherence.
• Coach and mentor at all levels; develop successors and accelerate leadership capability through meaningful delegation.
• Foster an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative culture that values diverse perspectives.
• Address performance and behavior issues promptly and consistently in partnership with HR.
• Promote transparent communication and strong cross-functional relationships.

Quality & continuous improvement

• Ensure products and processes meet customer specifications, internal standards, and plant requirements.
• Establish ownership for quality outcomes; contain, investigate, and correct issues quickly.
• Use statistical methods, data analysis, and structured problem solving (5 Why, root cause) to eliminate recurrence.
• Champion continuous improvement using Lean and Kaizen to reduce waste, improve capability, and boost overall performance.
• Lead CI initiatives and sustain gains through standards, training, audits, and accountability.

Operational & financial performance

• Drive operational excellence through sound planning, resource management, and data-driven decision making.
• Own operational and financial results for your areas; collaborate with plant leadership on strategic objectives.
• Monitor and control key cost drivers: labor, scrap, productivity, efficiency, downtime, overtime, material usage, and other controllables.
• Identify profitability opportunities via productivity gains, waste elimination, process improvements, labor optimization, and smart resource use.
• Produce timely, accurate reporting and leverage insights to anticipate challenges and allocate resources.
• Translate strategy into clear action plans; ensure accountability and follow-through.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Plant Manager.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Industrial Management, Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 5+ years in manufacturing with at least 2+ years in a supervisory/leadership role.
• Proficiency with statistical analysis, data-driven decision making, root cause analysis, and process improvement.
• Strong computer skills: Microsoft Office Suite; ability to learn company systems and technology.
• History of building, developing, and leading high-performing teams.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; effective communicator at all levels.
• Proven ability to lead in a fast-paced environment and balance competing priorities with sound judgment.

Preferred experience and tools

• Leadership / People Management
• 5 Why (Root Cause Analysis Method)
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Kaizen
• Lean Manufacturing Principles
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Budgeting / Forecasting Experience
• Plastic Extrusion Experience
• Thermoforming Experience
• Microsoft Excel
• Presentation skills