Operations Manager – Meat and Food Manufacturing

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead the Operations department in a USDA/FSIS‑regulated meat and food manufacturing facility. The role focuses on safety, quality, productivity and continuous improvement while supporting employee development.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Operations team, working closely with the General Manager and department heads.
• Maintain daily presence on the production floor, driving urgency and overseeing safety, quality, and cleanliness.
• Accountable for Production Superintendents and other operations leaders' performance.
• Coordinate staffing, hiring, succession planning and budget management.
• Manage vendor relationships, capital expenditures and compliance with USDA/FSIS regulations.
• Identify and remove operational barriers, communicate critical issues to senior management.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Meat Science, Food Science, Business or related field (preferred).
• Minimum 5 years progressive managerial experience in meat/food manufacturing.
• Strong background in plant/operations/production management within USDA/FSIS‑regulated facilities.
• Proven experience with budgeting, capital projects and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Willingness to work on‑site in Reidsville, NC or Cherokee, IA and relocate if needed.

Required skills

• HACCP implementation and maintenance.
• USDA/FSIS inspection and compliance expertise.
• Environmental monitoring, including Listeria testing.