Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Columbia, CT

Pay Range: $135,000/yr. - $165,000/yr. based on experience and qualifications

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing all manufacturing operations at the South Windsor facility. This role owns plant performance across safety, food safety & quality, yield, labor efficiency, and cost control, ensuring the operation delivers against business targets for throughput, cost per pound, and profitability.

This position operates as a key business leader within the facility, driving continuous improvement, developing frontline leadership capability, and ensuring disciplined execution of operational standards. The Operations Manager partners cross-functionally with FSQA, Supply Planning, Maintenance, and Engineering to deliver a safe, compliant, and high-performing operation.

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Safety & Risk Management

• Own plant safety performance and drive a culture of zero incidents; Ensure compliance with OSHA and company safety standards; Lead hazard identification, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
• Establish and monitor KPIs for: (TRIR, Near-miss reporting, Injury cost reduction)

Food Safety & Quality

• Maintain full ownership of HACCP execution within operations; Ensure adherence to all USDA, FSIS, SQF, and regulatory requirements
• Enforce CCP compliance, verification, and documentation discipline
• Partner with FSQA to proactively reduce: Foreign material incidents, Product holds and rework, Drive a "stop production" culture when food safety risk is identified

Yield, Throughput & OEE Performance

• Own and deliver against plant targets for: Yield %, OEE, Throughput (lbs./hr.)
• Identify and eliminate sources of: Giveaway, Inedible loss, Process variability
• Drive line optimization through: Equipment performance improvements, Standard work and process control, Downtime reduction initiatives, Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to improve system reliability

Labor Management & Cost Control

• Own labor performance and cost per pound across all shifts; Drive disciplined labor planning aligned to production demand; Eliminate unnecessary overtime and improve staffing models
• Implement systems to track and reduce: Direct labor variance, Indirect labor inefficiencies
• Lead cost savings initiatives tied to: Labor reduction, Yield improvement, Waste elimination

Continuous Improvement (CI) & Operational Excellence

• Lead structured continuous improvement initiatives using CI tools (RCA, Gemba, standard work)
• Build and maintain a pipeline of cost savings and performance improvement projects
• Establish a data-driven culture with daily performance management (Tiered meetings)

Leadership Development & Team Effectiveness

• Develop Superintendents and Supervisors into high-performing leaders
• Establish clear expectations for accountability, communication, and execution; Drive engagement, retention, and leadership capability across all shifts
• Ensure proper training, onboarding, and skill development systems are in place

Cross-Functional Execution

• Partner with: Supply Planning to align production schedules with demand, FSQA to ensure compliance and audit readiness, Maintenance to maximize uptime and equipment reliability, Engineering to support capital projects and process improvements.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE: 

• High School diploma with equivalent experience required; Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations, Food Science, or related field preferred
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, protein processing, & high speed packaging systems
• Demonstrated experience managing: Yield and throughput performance, Labor and cost control systems, Continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong knowledge of: HACCP, USDA/FSIS regulations, SQF standards, Manufacturing KPIs (OEE, yield, cost per unit)
• Proven ability to lead and develop large, diverse teams in a fast-paced environment
• Strong verbal and written English skills required; Bilingual in Spanish and/or Portuguese a plus
• Experience with effectively presenting information and responding to questions from clients, customers and the general public required
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENT: 

The physical demands and work environment described below are representative of those required to perform this job's essential functions.

• Regular presence in production areas, including cold, wet, humid, and noisy environments.
• Ability to walk production floors, climb ladders and stairs, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear
• Off-shift and weekend work may be required to support breakdowns, shutdowns, or project execution.
• Strict adherence to safety, PPE, and hygiene standards are required.