Night Operations Manager

UNC Dairy•Town of Cheektowaga, NY

9h•Onsite

About The Position

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Here, you’ll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day. The Night Operations Manager is responsible for leading all plant operations during night shift, with a primary focus on overseeing frontline supervision and driving performance across the facility. This role serves as the senior operational leader on nights, ensuring alignment to plant goals as defined by the Circle of Success metrics, including safety, quality, service, cost, and compliance. This position is critical to stabilizing and improving off-shift performance by establishing clear expectations, reinforcing standards, and holding supervisors accountable to results. The Night Operations Manager utilizes performance data to identify gaps, drive corrective actions, and deliver measurable improvements in plant performance and cost. Success in this role will be directly tied to improvements in the Circle of Success metrics, operational efficiency, and plant savings, making this position a key driver of overall facility success.

Requirements

5+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing operations, preferably within dairy, food, or beverage production.
Demonstrated experience leading frontline supervisors in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of dairy processing operations including HTST processing, blending, filling/packaging, bulk loadout, and raw material receiving.
Proven ability to drive performance improvements through Circle of Success metrics, data analysis, and accountability systems.
Experience managing and improving key operational metrics such as safety, quality, service, waste, and labor efficiency.
Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, and hold supervisors accountable to standards.
Experience implementing and sustaining compliance with regulatory, food safety, and company standards.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in a fast-paced production environment.
Ability to analyze operational data and translate insights into actionable improvements.
Excellent communication and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).
Ability to work night shift and support a 24/7 operation with flexibility as needed.
Proven experience leading production teams in a manufacturing environment, with a strong emphasis on driving performance through frontline supervision.
Deep knowledge of plant operations across processing, packaging, warehousing, and logistics, with the ability to coordinate activities and remove barriers during night operations.
Experience using performance data to identify gaps, drive accountability, and implement sustainable improvements.
Strong understanding of compliance requirements, operational standards, and continuous improvement tools is essential to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality plant performance during night operations.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or related discipline.
Experience in dairy or food manufacturing environments.
Experience with SAP or similar production and performance tracking systems.
Knowledge of Continuous Improvement methodologies such as Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma.

Responsibilities

Lead all plant operations during night shift, serving as the primary decision-maker and escalation point.
Directly oversee and support night shift supervisors to ensure effective execution of daily operations.
Drive accountability for performance by monitoring and managing Circle of Success metrics including safety, quality, service, cost, and productivity.
Utilize operational data to identify gaps, implement corrective actions, and sustain performance improvements.
Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
Reinforce standard work, operational procedures, and plant expectations across all departments.
Partner with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Warehouse teams to ensure coordinated and efficient operations.
Identify and remove barriers to performance during night shift operations.
Coach and develop supervisors to improve leadership capability, decision-making, and ownership.
Support labor management efforts to ensure appropriate staffing levels and efficient utilization of resources.
Drive waste reduction and cost savings initiatives aligned with plant performance goals.
Ensure effective communication and transition between shifts, including clear handoffs of priorities, issues, and performance results.
Respond to and manage operational disruptions including equipment failures, staffing challenges, and quality concerns.
Support and lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance plant performance and stability.
Participate in plant leadership discussions and provide insights on night shift performance and opportunities.
Provide direct coverage for night shift supervisor vacancies, including vacations, absences, and open roles, ensuring continuity of leadership and operational performance.
Deliver measurable improvement in Circle of Success metrics on night shift, including safety, quality, service, and cost, with a focus on driving efficiency initiatives such as the 65% program.
Drive sustainable cost reduction and operational efficiency improvements through labor optimization, waste reduction, and improved execution, contributing directly to plant savings targets aligned with annual operating plans.