Operations Manager

Campbell's•Beloit, WI

About The Position

Since 1869, we've connected people through food they love. We’re proud to be stewards of amazing brands that people trust. Our portfolio includes the iconic Campbell’s brand, as well as Cape Cod, Chunky, Goldfish, Kettle Brand, Lance, Late July, Pacific Foods, Pepperidge Farm, Prego, Pace, Rao’s Homemade, Snack Factory, Snyder’s of Hanover. Swanson, and V8. Here, you will make a difference every day. You will be supported to build a rewarding career with opportunities to grow, innovate and inspire. Make history with us. Why Campbell’s… Benefits begin on day one and include medical, dental, short and long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance (for individual, families, and domestic partners). Employees are eligible for our matching 401(k) plan and can enroll on the first day of employment with immediate vesting. Campbell’s offers unlimited sick time along with paid time off and holiday pay. If in WHQ – free access to the fitness center. Access to on-site day care (operated by Bright Horizons) and company store. Giving back to the communities where our employees work and live is very important to Campbell’s. Our “Campbell’s Cares” program matches employee donations and/or volunteer activity up to $1,500 annually. Campbell’s has a variety of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support employees. How you will make history here... The Operations Manager is accountable for the overall operational and financial performance of Campbell’s Beloit Facility. This role directly leads three supervisors and indirectly influences approximately 170 employees across multiple shifts. Success requires a strong business‑owner mindset, independent judgment, and the discipline to deliver sustainable results through leaders, systems, and standard work rather than personal intervention. The Operations Manager leads day‑to‑day plant execution while proactively identifying and addressing gaps across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people. This role is expected to operate with minimal direction, using data and financial insight to set priorities, make timely decisions, and drive continuous improvement. Strong manufacturing and financial acumen are essential, including the ability to interpret labor performance, yields, efficiencies, OEE, inventory, and budget variances and translate them into clear operational actions. The Operations Manager builds a high‑performing, accountable culture by developing supervisors, strengthening organizational capability, and building future leaders. This role serves as a strategic business partner to internal and external stakeholders, drives engagement through clear expectations and coaching, and fully owns results through disciplined execution. Key leadership expectations include setting direction, driving decisive action, developing talent, modeling accountability, and delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, operational performance, and cost. This role is expected to model and reinforce Campbell’s 5 Cs — Care, Character, Collaboration, Competitiveness, and Creativity — by leading with care and candor, acting with integrity and accountability, working cross‑functionally to enable smarter and faster decisions, maintaining a growth‑ and results‑oriented mindset, and continuously seeking better ways to operate, improve, and win as one team.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing environment

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree preferred
Demonstrated ownership of operational and financial performance
Experience leading large, multi‑shift manufacturing teams
Proven experience developing leaders and building high‑performing teams
Demonstrated ability to drive results through continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, OPEX)
Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to translate data into action
Effective verbal, written, and project management skills
Empowering leadership style with the ability to engage all levels of the organization
Ability to manage multiple priorities with precision, urgency, and accuracy
Commitment to corporate social responsibility through community involvement and servant leadership

Responsibilities

Business Ownership & Leadership (Character, Competitiveness) Own the overall operational performance of the Beloit Facility with full accountability for safety, quality, cost, delivery, and people results.
Lead and integrate end‑to‑end manufacturing operations including Processing, Packaging, Quality, Sanitation, Warehouse, and Maintenance.
Lead plant operations through supervisors by setting clear expectations, holding leaders accountable, and driving results through systems and standard work.
Operate independently with minimal direction; proactively identify risks, gaps, and opportunities and take decisive action before issues impact performance.
Act with integrity, transparency, and accountability by owning outcomes, addressing gaps openly, and executing commitments with discipline.
Demonstrate a strong bias for action, using data, experience, and sound judgment to make timely decisions in ambiguous situations.
Financial & Operational Performance Management (Character, Competitiveness) Own plant operational P&L performance, including labor, overhead, yields, scrap, absorption, and fixed versus variable cost management.
Lead budget development, forecasting, and execution of gap‑to‑plan recovery actions.
Maintain strong control of WIP and inventory accuracy to support financial performance, service levels, and operational stability.
Regularly review financial and operational data (P&L, labor performance, efficiencies, OEE, yield, waste, and variance reports) to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities.
Translate financial and operating results into clear, actionable priorities for supervisors and teams.
Make data‑driven trade-off decisions that appropriately balance safety, quality, service, cost, and long‑term business performance.
Performance Management & Continuous Improvement (Competitiveness, Creativity) Own and drive performance against key manufacturing KPIs, including Safety, Quality, OEE, Throughput, Labor Efficiency, Yield, Waste, and Cost.
Personally review, challenge, and validate performance data with supervisors to ensure accountability and sustained improvement.
Lead structured problem‑solving using root cause analysis when performance gaps exist and ensure corrective actions are effective and sustained.
Drive operational improvements embedded through standard work, leadership behaviors, and systems rather than short‑term fixes.
Champion a continuous improvement culture aligned with OPEX principles by challenging the status quo, encouraging curiosity, and supporting innovative solutions.
Production, Safety & Quality Execution (Care, Character) Own production plan execution across shifts, including reviewing schedules, setting priorities, adjusting sequencing, and aligning staffing and equipment capability.
Ensure production requirements are met safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with food safety, quality, regulatory, and company standards.
Lead safety through visible presence on the floor, coaching safe behaviors, reinforcing standards, and ensuring consistent application of safety policies.
Establish and enforce production standards that enable consistent performance, product integrity, and cost control.
Ensure rapid identification, resolution, and prevention of quality issues, including Consumer and Foreign Matter complaints, through root cause analysis and sustained corrective actions.
Proactively audit operations, behaviors, and systems to identify and mitigate safety, quality, and operational risks.
Lead with care and candor by addressing safety, quality, and performance issues directly, respectfully, and promptly.
Talent Development & Organizational Capability (Care, Character) Develop supervisors into independent, high‑performing leaders capable of effectively running their areas without constant oversight.
Build internal bench strength and succession pipelines to support current performance and future growth.
Hold full accountability for talent decisions within operations, including hiring, performance management, development, and corrective action, in partnership with HR.
Coach leaders using data, direct observation on the floor, and clear performance expectations.
Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, continuous learning, and trust, where feedback is timely and expectations are clear.
Coordinate manufacturing activities across departments and shifts to optimize labor, equipment, and material utilization.
Serve as a strategic business partner to site leadership, corporate partners, suppliers, and peers.
Act as the primary operations partner for Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain initiatives involving processing, packaging, and product or process changes.
Build trust and results through strong collaboration across Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, Sales, and Marketing.
Communicate business priorities, performance results, and expectations clearly and consistently at all levels of the organization.
Lead change effectively by engaging leaders and employees, maintaining morale, and reinforcing accountability.

Benefits

Benefits begin on day one and include medical, dental, short and long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance (for individual, families, and domestic partners).
Employees are eligible for our matching 401(k) plan and can enroll on the first day of employment with immediate vesting.
Campbell’s offers unlimited sick time along with paid time off and holiday pay.
If in WHQ – free access to the fitness center.
Access to on-site day care (operated by Bright Horizons) and company store.
Giving back to the communities where our employees work and live is very important to Campbell’s.
Our “Campbell’s Cares” program matches employee donations and/or volunteer activity up to $1,500 annually.
Campbell’s has a variety of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support employees.

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