Manufacturing Operations Manager

Home Market Foods•South Windsor, CT

1d•$150,000 - $180,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing all manufacturing operations at the South Windsor facility. This role owns plant performance across safety, food safety & quality, yield, labor efficiency, and cost control, ensuring the operation delivers against business targets for throughput, cost per pound, and profitability. This position operates as a key business leader within the facility, driving continuous improvement, developing frontline leadership capability, and ensuring disciplined execution of operational standards. The Operations Manager partners cross-functionally with FSQA, Supply Planning, Maintenance, and Engineering to deliver a safe, compliant, and high-performing operation.

Requirements

High School diploma with equivalent experience required
7+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, protein processing, & high speed packaging systems
Demonstrated experience managing: Yield and throughput performance, Labor and cost control systems, Continuous improvement initiatives
Strong knowledge of: HACCP, USDA/FSIS regulations, SQF standards, Manufacturing KPIs (OEE, yield, cost per unit)
Proven ability to lead and develop large, diverse teams in a fast-paced environment
Strong verbal and written English skills required
Experience with effectively presenting information and responding to questions from clients, customers and the general public required
Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Operations, Food Science, or related field preferred
Bilingual in Spanish and/or Portuguese a plus

Responsibilities

Own plant safety performance and drive a culture of zero incidents
Ensure compliance with OSHA and company safety standards
Lead hazard identification, root cause analysis, and corrective actions
Establish and monitor KPIs for: (TRIR, Near-miss reporting, Injury cost reduction)
Maintain full ownership of HACCP execution within operations
Ensure adherence to all USDA, FSIS, SQF, and regulatory requirements
Enforce CCP compliance, verification, and documentation discipline
Partner with FSQA to proactively reduce: Foreign material incidents, Product holds and rework, Drive a “stop production” culture when food safety risk is identified
Own and deliver against plant targets for: Yield %, OEE, Throughput (lbs./hr.)
Identify and eliminate sources of: Giveaway, Inedible loss, Process variability
Drive line optimization through: Equipment performance improvements, Standard work and process control, Downtime reduction initiatives, Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to improve system reliability
Own labor performance and cost per pound across all shifts
Drive disciplined labor planning aligned to production demand
Eliminate unnecessary overtime and improve staffing models
Implement systems to track and reduce: Direct labor variance, Indirect labor inefficiencies
Lead cost savings initiatives tied to: Labor reduction, Yield improvement, Waste elimination
Lead structured continuous improvement initiatives using CI tools (RCA, Gemba, standard work)
Build and maintain a pipeline of cost savings and performance improvement projects
Establish a data-driven culture with daily performance management (Tiered meetings)
Develop Superintendents and Supervisors into high-performing leaders
Establish clear expectations for accountability, communication, and execution
Drive engagement, retention, and leadership capability across all shifts
Ensure proper training, onboarding, and skill development systems are in place
Partner with: Supply Planning to align production schedules with demand, FSQA to ensure compliance and audit readiness, Maintenance to maximize uptime and equipment reliability, Engineering to support capital projects and process improvements.

Benefits

Enjoy top-tier Medical, Dental, Vision coverage.
Pamper your furry friends with Pet Insurance.
Stay fit with our Wellness Plan and Free Gym Access.
Boost your skills with Employee Tuition Reimbursement.
Unlock endless opportunities with College Scholarship for dependents.
Reap the Rewards of Our Bonus Program Available to Our Salary and Hourly Employees.
Receive a Generous 401k Company Match.
Take advantage of Competitive Paid Time Off.
Elevate Your Safety Net with Company-Sponsored Life Insurance Coverage.
Receive Relocation Assistance for a Smooth Transition.
Earn Rewards through our Employee Bonus Referral Program.
Elevate Your Workplace Experience with Community Impact Opportunities.
Celebrate Together with Employee Appreciation BBQs, Happy Hours, Birthdays, & More!