VP Manufacturing - Protein

We are partnering with a leading protein manufacturer to identify an experienced Vice President of Manufacturing to provide strategic and operational leadership across the organization's manufacturing network.

This is a senior executive leadership position responsible for driving manufacturing strategy, operational excellence, safety, quality, productivity, profitability, and organizational performance across multiple production facilities.

The successful candidate will work closely with the President, COO, and executive leadership team to develop and execute the company's manufacturing strategy while building a high-performing operations organization capable of supporting continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the company's manufacturing strategy across multiple facilities, aligned with overall business objectives and growth plans.
• Provide executive leadership and accountability for plant operations, production, maintenance, engineering, operational excellence, and manufacturing performance.
• Lead and develop Plant Managers, Directors of Operations, and senior manufacturing leadership across the network.
• Establish standardized operating practices, KPIs, and performance expectations across all manufacturing facilities.
• Drive improvements in throughput, yield, labor efficiency, OEE, capacity utilization, cost, quality, and overall plant profitability.
• Develop and implement strategies to improve manufacturing productivity and optimize the organization's cost structure.
• Partner closely with FSQA leadership to maintain the highest standards of food safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.
• Establish a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence throughout the manufacturing organization.
• Lead network-wide continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Oversee long-term capacity planning, manufacturing footprint strategy, plant expansions, automation, and technology investments.
• Provide executive oversight of the organization's CAPEX strategy, ensuring capital investments deliver appropriate operational and financial returns.
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance leadership to improve asset reliability, equipment uptime, automation, and facility performance.
• Monitor manufacturing financial performance and work closely with Finance to manage labor, operating expenses, capital spending, and cost of goods.
• Analyze manufacturing performance data and establish corrective action plans for underperforming facilities.
• Develop talent strategies to attract, retain, and develop high-performing manufacturing leaders across the organization.
• Support succession planning and establish leadership development programs for key operational positions.
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, Finance, HR, FSQA, and Commercial leadership to ensure manufacturing capabilities align with customer and business requirements.
• Evaluate emerging manufacturing technologies, automation, robotics, and process improvements to maintain a competitive advantage.
• Ensure manufacturing facilities maintain compliance with USDA, FDA, OSHA, environmental, food safety, and other applicable regulations.
• Lead major operational transformation, restructuring, integration, and business improvement initiatives as required.
• Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to the executive leadership team and Board-level stakeholders.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished senior manufacturing executive with significant experience within protein, meat, poultry, RTE, food processing, or another complex high-volume manufacturing environment.

You will ideally bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Food Science, or a related discipline; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including significant multi-site or enterprise-level responsibility.
• Proven experience leading a multi-plant manufacturing network within a high-volume food or protein manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success improving manufacturing productivity, yield, labor efficiency, OEE, cost, capacity, and profitability.
• Strong understanding of protein manufacturing operations, production processes, labor management, food safety, and supply chain.
• Proven track record leading Plant Managers, Directors, and senior operational leadership teams.
• Significant experience developing and executing CAPEX, automation, capacity expansion, and manufacturing transformation strategies.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing large operating budgets and capital investment portfolios.
• Deep knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Strong understanding of USDA, HACCP, GMP, OSHA, and food safety requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to build high-performing leadership teams and develop organizational talent and succession plans.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, negotiation, and executive leadership capabilities.
• Proven ability to balance strategic priorities with hands-on operational execution.
• Experience leading organizations through periods of significant growth, transformation, acquisition, or operational change is highly advantageous.