Senior Manager of Manufacturing Operations

Chobani•Norton Shores, MI

5d•$109,000 - $204,500

About The Position

As a member of the La Colombe Norton Shores Leadership Team, the Senior Manager of Manufacturing provides strategic leadership and oversight to the Norton Shores, Michigan plant. The role leads manufacturing strategy, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and business performance while collaborating across the organization. It is accountable for maintaining high standards of safety and quality for Chobani and La Colombe employees and products. The position develops manufacturing leaders and teams, aligns production capabilities with customer demand, and plans capacity and staffing for current needs and future growth. It monitors manufacturing KPIs and works with Quality Assurance and senior site leaders to improve operational performance, uphold quality and safety standards, and prepare for capital projects, equipment installations, process changes, and site expansion. The salary range for this full-time position is $109,000–$204,500, plus bonus, equity, and benefits. Individual pay depends on work location and job-related skills, experience, education, or training.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in engineering, manufacturing, business administration, or a related field.
5–7 years of progressive experience in manufacturing, production, or operations leadership.
3–5 years of experience leading managers and/or supervisors.
Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire and empower teams to achieve goals and objectives.
In-depth knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and partners.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing, production, or operations leadership experience in the food and beverage industry.
Experience in a fast-paced, multi-SKU product environment.
Experience leading or participating in a site transformation.

Responsibilities

Support development and execution of manufacturing strategies aligned with company goals and objectives.
Lead initiatives to improve productivity, operational efficiency, quality, and manufacturing performance.
Develop managers and supervisors, establish expectations and accountability, and create development and succession plans.
Identify and execute opportunities for process optimization, cost reduction, and waste elimination; champion lean manufacturing and standardized processes.
Lead and support cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives and foster problem-solving, innovation, accountability, and operational excellence.
Partner with the Vice President of Operations and La Colombe Sales & Operations Planning team to align production capabilities with customer demand and improve responsiveness.
Lead capacity and workforce planning to align staffing, equipment, and production capabilities with current demand and future growth.
Establish, monitor, and report manufacturing KPIs, including safety, quality, productivity, labor efficiency, waste, downtime, schedule attainment, and OEE; analyze trends and take corrective action when results fall below expectations.
Partner with Quality Assurance to maintain quality control standards and procedures and ensure products meet or exceed company and customer expectations.
Improve labor utilization, production flow, changeover performance, material usage, equipment effectiveness, and overall manufacturing efficiency.
Partner with senior site leadership on capital projects, equipment installations, process changes, and site expansion to ensure operational readiness and successful implementation.
Champion safety procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices, reinforcing employee safety, food safety, and product quality as fundamental operating expectations.
Spend significant time on the production floor, interacting with employees at all levels.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Disability insurance.
Health savings account and flexible spending accounts.
Tuition reimbursement.
401(k) match of 100% on up to 5% of eligible pay.
Fertility and childcare assistance.
12 weeks of parental leave at full pay after six months of continuous employment.
Employee assistance program, fitness discounts, wellness reimbursement, on-site gym access at certain locations, and a monthly wellness newsletter.
Paid and flexible time off based on start date and tenure.
11 holidays each year.
Bonus and equity.