Associate Vice President of Manufacturing Operations

Herr Foods Inc. • Chillicothe, OH

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Vice President of Operations is responsible for leading and coordinating manufacturing, engineering, maintenance, and operational support functions to achieve company goals related to safety, quality, service, productivity, employee engagement, and financial performance within our Ohio production facilities. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for production processes, engineering initiatives, capital projects, personnel, facilities, and continuous improvement efforts while supporting the execution of the company's long-term operational strategy. The Associate Vice President works collaboratively with executive leadership to drive operational excellence, optimize resources, and support sustainable business growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field required
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive manufacturing and operations leadership experience, including oversight of production, engineering, and maintenance functions.
• Demonstrated experience leading capital projects, equipment installations, automation initiatives, and facility improvements.
• Proven experience implementing process improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, engineering principles, financial management, asset management, and operational performance metrics.
• Experience managing budgets, capital expenditures, and strategic operational initiatives.
• Strong leadership, coaching, communication, conflict resolution, and team development skills.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Travel between multiple production locations within Ohio will be required regularly (weekly)
• Ability to travel domestically up to 10% as needed

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree preferred
• Experience with ERP systems and manufacturing technology platforms preferred.
• Food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of operational strategies aligned with company goals and objectives.
• Lead integrated business planning efforts and establish priorities to meet customer demand, operational goals, and business objectives.
• Oversee production scheduling and coordination with warehouse, receiving, logistics, maintenance, quality, engineering, and other support departments.
• Ensure operational plans are executed effectively to achieve production, quality, service, safety, and cost objectives.
• Develop, monitor, and improve key performance indicators related to safety, quality, productivity, service, cost, and employee engagement.
• Analyze operational performance and implement actions that improve efficiency, profitability, customer satisfaction, and organizational effectiveness.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, capital expenditures, and resource allocation plans.
• Prepare operational reports, recommendations, and updates for executive leadership.
• Provide leadership and oversight for Engineering, Maintenance, Continuous Improvement, and Capital Project activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational excellence, process optimization, automation, and waste reduction.
• Lead root cause analysis efforts and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve operational performance.
• Oversee the evaluation, selection, installation, and startup of equipment, technology, and facility improvements.
• Ensure engineering and capital projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives.
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability, asset utilization, and preventative maintenance programs.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, best practices, and process controls.
• Support long-term capacity planning and facility growth initiatives.
• Provide leadership and direction to manufacturing managers, supervisors, maintenance leaders, and operational teams.
• Recruit, develop, coach, mentor, and evaluate leaders and team members to support succession planning and organizational growth.
• Establish performance expectations and hold leaders accountable for achieving departmental and company objectives.
• Foster employee engagement through effective communication, recognition, accountability, and leadership presence.
• Ensure compliance with all company, safety, food safety, and quality requirements.
• Promote a culture of promoting Herr Foods values including, safety, quality, accountability and integrity.
• Support audits, inspections, regulatory compliance activities, and strategic business initiatives as required.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, hearing and vision insurance.
• Opportunity to contribute to a 401k with a generous Company Match Program
• Annual Company Profit Sharing
• Paid vacation, holiday and sick time.
• Paid Employee referral program.
• long term disability, life insurance, accident, hospital and critical illness indemnity plans, critical illness indemnity plans, identity theft coverage, and legal plans.
• EAP services
• tuition reimbursement
• low or no cost medical care through our Assured Excellence Program which provides high quality health care for orthopedic procedures, cancer treatments, cardiac surgery and care, along with treatment for many other conditions.
• OSS Health Company Direct Program, based in York, PA, is available to benefit-eligible employees offering bundled package rates for orthopedic care and imaging.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager