Director of Operations- Longview, TX

Fresh & Ready Foods is seeking a strategic and hands-on Operations Director to lead our Longview, TX manufacturing facility. As the site leader, this role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of production, food safety, quality, maintenance, warehousing, and distribution while driving operational excellence and developing high-performing teams.

Reporting to the Regional Director, the Operations Director will be accountable for achieving safety, quality, service, inventory, and financial objectives while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement. This highly visible leadership role requires a strong manufacturing background, a passion for people development, and the ability to drive results in a fast-paced food production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for plant operations, including production, quality, food safety, maintenance, warehousing, and distribution.
• Lead and develop managers, supervisors, and frontline teams to create a strong culture of accountability, engagement, and performance.
• Champion safety, regulatory compliance, and food safety programs, including SQF, HACCP, sanitation, and audit readiness.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to improve productivity, reduce waste, and optimize plant performance.
• Establish and manage KPIs related to safety, quality, labor, yield, inventory, customer service, and on-time delivery.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support customer growth, new product introductions, and operational initiatives.
• Manage budgets, labor costs, inventory levels, and operational expenses to achieve financial objectives.
• Maintain a visible presence on the production floor, coaching leaders and supporting problem-solving efforts.
• Build succession plans and develop future leaders within the organization.
• Foster a culture focused on operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Engineering, Business, Food Science, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, beverage manufacturing, CPG, protein processing, bakery, prepared foods, or related manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing large production teams through multiple levels of leadership.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma, TPS, or similar methodologies.
• Proven track record improving safety, quality, productivity, and financial performance.
• Experience with SQF, HACCP, FDA/USDA regulations, sanitation programs, and quality systems.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, labor management, inventory control, and operational reporting.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a visible, people-focused manufacturing leader who enjoys building teams, developing talent, and driving operational results. They possess strong food manufacturing experience, a continuous improvement mindset, and a proven ability to lead large-scale operations while improving safety, quality, service, and profitability. Experience in high-volume food production environments is strongly preferred.