The Director of Operations is responsible for leading and optimizing all operational activities within a protein manufacturing organization, including production, processing, packaging, warehousing, maintenance coordination, food safety execution, and operational performance across one or multiple facilities.

This executive leadership role drives operational excellence, production efficiency, workforce development, food safety compliance, cost management, and continuous improvement initiatives in USDA- and FDA-regulated environments. The Director of Operations partners closely with Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, Food Safety, HR, and Commercial teams to ensure safe, efficient, and profitable operations that support business growth and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Direct all day-to-day manufacturing and processing operations across protein production facilities.
• Ensure operational performance aligns with company objectives for safety, quality, service, and profitability.
• Lead production, packaging, warehousing, sanitation, and operational support functions.
• Drive operational consistency and standardization across facilities.
• Ensure efficient utilization of labor, materials, equipment, and production capacity.
• Develop operational strategies to support growth, productivity, and scalability.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with:
  • USDA regulations
  • FDA requirements
  • HACCP programs
  • GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices)
  • SQF/BRC standards
  • OSHA safety regulations
  • Environmental and sanitation standards
• Promote a strong food safety culture throughout all operations.
• Lead audit readiness and support customer, regulatory, and third-party inspections.
• Ensure adherence to RTE and raw product food safety controls where applicable.
• Support crisis management, recall readiness, and corrective action programs.

Financial & Operational Performance

• Manage operational budgets, labor costs, and production expenses.
• Drive improvements in:
  • OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
  • Yield performance
  • Throughput
  • Downtime reduction
  • Labor efficiency
  • Waste reduction
• Develop and implement cost-saving initiatives.
• Ensure achievement of production targets and customer service metrics.
• Monitor KPI performance and implement corrective actions where necessary.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop plant managers, operations managers, production managers, and functional leadership teams.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning and leadership development initiatives.
• Partner with HR on recruitment, workforce planning, retention, and employee relations.
• Support union and non-union environments where applicable.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead operational transformation and process optimization projects.
• Utilize data analytics and performance metrics to identify operational improvement opportunities.
• Improve manufacturing efficiencies and operational reliability.
• Support automation and digital manufacturing initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with:
  • Food Safety & Quality
  • Engineering & Maintenance
  • Supply Chain & Logistics
  • Procurement
  • Finance
  • Sales & Commercial teams
• Align production capabilities with customer demand and strategic business objectives.
• Support new product commercialization and production launches.

Strategic Planning

• Participate in long-term operational and capacity planning.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and expansion initiatives where applicable.
• Develop operational strategies to support business growth and profitability.
• Lead capital planning and operational investment initiatives.