Site Operations Manager — Unionized Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma

Novolex Corporate • Elizabeth, NJ

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Own end-to-end plant production and drive measurable gains in safety, quality, service, productivity, and profitability—without compromising food-safety or compliance. This role involves production planning, direction, and coordination for the site’s manufacturing operations. It also includes safety leadership to build and advance programs that protect employee health, security, and welfare, as well as ensuring 5S discipline and environmental compliance across all production areas. GMP adherence and enforcement consistent with food-safety standards (e.g., SQF/ISO) are critical. The manager will provide oversight of production and support teams consistent with company policies, principles, procedures, values, and standards. Talent development through assessment, mentoring, and coaching leaders and teams for top performance is key. Continuous improvement involves delivering technical recommendations and implementing process enhancements. Cross-functional collaboration with customers, sales, and internal/external resources is expected to elevate service, flow, quality, and product value. Supervisory execution aligned to policy and law includes interviewing, hiring, training, work assignment, performance reviews, rewards/discipline, and complaint resolution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of continued education and experience.
• 5–7 years of manufacturing leadership experience (or equivalent).
• Proven track record leading change in a union environment.
• Hands-on application of TQM, Lean, and/or Six Sigma to drive cost, productivity, and profitability improvements.
• Experience with SQF or ISO within a manufacturing setting.
• Technical leadership with structured problem-solving capability.
• Strong communication skills across all organizational levels.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and eager to learn new systems.

Nice To Haves

• Continuous Improvement certification or Black Belt.
• Leadership / People Management
• Continuous Improvement
• 5 Why (Root Cause Analysis Method)
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• Lean Manufacturing Principles
• Coaching and Mentoring Experience
• Six Sigma Experience
• Workplace Safety & EHS Management
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Union operations and labor relations

Responsibilities

• Production planning, direction, and coordination for the site’s manufacturing operations.
• Safety leadership: build and advance programs that protect employee health, security, and welfare.
• 5S discipline and environmental compliance across all production areas.
• GMP adherence and enforcement consistent with food-safety standards (e.g., SQF/ISO).
• Oversight of production and support teams consistent with company policies, principles, procedures, values, and standards.
• Talent development: assess, mentor, and coach leaders and teams for top performance.
• Continuous improvement: deliver technical recommendations and implement process enhancements.
• Cross-functional collaboration: partner with customers, sales, and internal/external resources to elevate service, flow, quality, and product value.
• Supervisory execution aligned to policy and law: interviewing, hiring, training, work assignment, performance reviews, rewards/discipline, and complaint resolution.

What This Job Offers

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