Operations Team Manager

Stella & Chewy'S • Oak Creek, WI

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Team Manager leads day-to-day manufacturing operations across the facility, ensuring safe, compliant, efficient, and consistent execution of the production plan. Leading through Production Team Managers and Supervisors, this role drives performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, People, and Continuous Improvement; establishes operating discipline; develops manufacturing leaders; drives accountability for operational losses; and partners cross-functionally with Safety, Quality, Maintenance, Scheduling, Supply Chain, Inventory Control, HR, and Continuous Improvement. The role serves as a key link between plant strategy and shift-level execution and acts as a backup to the Director of Operations as needed. Scope: Leads 3 Production Team Managers and up to 20 Supervisors across 12 shifts, with responsibility for approximately 600 production associates across 5 departments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Engineering, Business, Science, Supply Chain, or related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing or operations experience, preferably in food, pet food, or another regulated production environment.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience, including leading and developing frontline leaders or managers.
• Strong understanding of food safety, GMPs, sanitation, and regulatory requirements in food manufacturing.
• Demonstrated ability to lead production planning, labor management, performance management, and fast-paced execution.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills using operational data and structured methods to identify root causes and drive corrective actions.
• Strong planning, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to prioritize competing operational needs.
• Continuous improvement mindset and working knowledge of Lean, 5S, root-cause analysis, and structured problem-solving.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a high-growth or rapidly changing manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of microbiological risks related to food processing, sanitation, hygienic design, and food-safety controls.
• Experience with FDA, USDA, state, or other applicable food-manufacturing regulatory requirements.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient execution of production plans while meeting Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People expectations.
• Lead, coach, and develop Production Team Managers and Supervisors; establish clear expectations, address performance gaps, build accountability, and develop leadership capability and succession depth.
• Establish and maintain a consistent operating rhythm through daily production reviews, floor presence, shift handoffs, weekly performance reviews, action tracking, and other leadership routines.
• Review schedules, staffing, WIP, equipment availability, and priorities; adjust labor and resources to achieve production and service targets.
• Monitor KPIs including schedule attainment, labor productivity, overtime, downtime, waste, yield, quality performance, and material adherence; identify trends and drive recovery actions.
• Drive continuous improvement through root-cause analysis, standard work, SOP development, and corrective actions focused on safety, quality, throughput, reliability, productivity, and cost.
• Partner with Quality, Safety, Maintenance, Scheduling, Supply Chain, Inventory Control, HR, and Continuous Improvement to resolve operational barriers, establish ownership, and ensure timely closure.
• Ensure compliance with GMPs, food-safety requirements, safety programs, SOPs, training requirements, production controls, and plant systems such as RedZone, D365, Directed Pick, and related reporting tools.
• Support plant projects, process and equipment changes, shutdowns, readiness activities, and strategic initiatives; serve as backup to the Director of Operations as needed.

What This Job Offers

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