Operations Manager

BAZOOKA COMPANIES LLC • Moosic, PA

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading all day-to-day manufacturing operations at Bazooka’s Ring Pop facility in Moosic, PA. This role oversees all production supervisors and frontline teams, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality production execution. Reporting to the Manufacturing Director, the Production Manager plays a critical role in driving operational performance, developing high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. This leader works closely with Quality Assurance to ensure all products meet food safety and quality standards while consistently achieving production targets.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
• 5–8+ years of production leadership experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in food, beverage, or CPG.
• Proven experience leading supervisors and managing large, hourly workforces.
• Experience in high-speed, automated production environments strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of production processes, scheduling, and KPI management.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience driving and implementing a Management Operating System (Tier approach).
• Knowledge of food safety and quality standards (GMP, HACCP, FDA).
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Results-oriented with strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-accountability manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field
• Experience in high-speed, automated production environments

Responsibilities

• Lead all daily production activities across manufacturing and packaging lines to ensure attainment of safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Drive efficient operations by leveraging production data to optimize labor, equipment utilization, and production scheduling.
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) including OEE, throughput, yield, and downtime, using data visualization tools to identify trends.
• Ensure production plans are executed effectively to meet customer demand and business goals.
• Directly manage all production supervisors, providing clear expectations, coaching, and performance management.
• Build, engage, and inspire a high-performing production team focused on accountability, results, and long-term retention.
• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment that promotes teamwork, communication, and continuous learning.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and development of production staff.
• Effectively operate within a unionized environment, ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements while maintaining strong employee relations.
• Partner closely with Quality Assurance to ensure adherence to all food safety and quality standards, including GMP, HACCP, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote a “quality-first” mindset across all production teams.
• Support investigations, root cause analysis (RCA), and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA) related to quality issues.
• Ensure production processes consistently meet product specifications and customer expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing and other operational excellence tools.
• Identify and eliminate waste, reduce variability, and improve process efficiency.
• Lead daily performance reviews and problem-solving activities on the production floor.
• Collaborate with Maintenance to minimize downtime and improve equipment reliability.
• Drive and Influence process transformation and change management through the production organization.
• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure all production activities comply with OSHA and company safety standards.
• Lead by example in promoting safe behaviors and practices.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and company policies related to food production and workplace safety.
• Work closely with Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering to ensure seamless operations.
• Support new product introductions and process changes by coordinating production readiness.
• Communicate effectively with leadership on performance, challenges, and improvement plans.

What This Job Offers

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