VP, Operations

Champion Foods•Gaffney, SC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Champion Foods, a pizza trailblazer, is expanding, and we're looking for dynamic talents to enhance our innovative and quality-driven team. We produce products cherished by families nationwide and pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to quality, and a warm workplace culture that feels like family. If you're passionate, eager to grow, and want to work for a company that values each voice and champions personal development, your next career adventure starts here. Join us, and let's craft great things together, one delicious slice at a time. Your Mission: The Vice President of Operations is a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for the strategic direction, operational performance, and financial results of all manufacturing and distribution activities. This role provides leadership for Production, Logistics & Distribution, Quality Assurance, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Engineering to ensure safe, efficient, compliant, and profitable operations. The Vice President of Operations develops and executes strategies that support organizational growth, improve productivity, enhance quality, optimize costs, and deliver exceptional customer service. This position is accountable for operational excellence, food safety, workforce development, labor compliance, capital planning, and continuous improvement initiatives that drive sustainable business performance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Food Science, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field required
Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience within food manufacturing or a related manufacturing environment, including senior leadership responsibility.
Demonstrated success leading manufacturing operations with accountability for operational performance, financial results, workforce development, and organizational growth.
Strong knowledge of food manufacturing processes, food safety systems, quality standards, supply chain operations, labor compliance, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Proven leadership, strategic planning, financial management, change management, and problem-solving capabilities.
Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company objectives, growth initiatives, and long-term business plans.
Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, contributing to organizational planning, decision-making, and performance management.
Lead all manufacturing and operational functions to achieve safety, quality, service, productivity, and financial goals.
Establish, monitor, and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive accountability and operational excellence.
Support business growth through capacity planning, capital investment, and operational readiness.
Maintain responsibility for operational financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, labor management, capital expenditures, and cost control.
Drive profitability through process improvements, resource optimization, waste reduction, and operational efficiencies.
Ensure responsible stewardship of company assets while delivering sustainable business results.
Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, regulatory, customer, and company requirements.
Promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Maintain readiness for customer, regulatory, and third-party audits and inspections.
Partner with Environmental Health & Safety leadership to support workplace safety initiatives and regulatory compliance.
Provide executive oversight of logistics, warehousing, inventory management, distribution, maintenance, and engineering functions.
Ensure efficient and cost-effective movement of products from production through customer delivery.
Oversee capital projects, equipment investments, automation initiatives, and facility improvements.
Ensure equipment is properly maintained, achieves consistent uptime and meets budgeted efficiency requirements.
Support new product commercialization and manufacturing capability development in partnership with cross-functional teams.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational performance and customer satisfaction.
Lead, develop, and mentor operational leaders while building organizational capability and succession strength for key positions.
Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, respect, and operational excellence.
Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, employee development, succession planning, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local labor and employment laws, wage and hour regulations, company policies, and employee relations practices.
Build and maintain a leadership team that consistently applies employment practices, workforce policies, and performance standards in a legally compliant and equitable manner.
Provide leadership for workforce compliance initiatives, including employee relations, performance management, corrective action processes, accommodations, attendance management, leave administration coordination, and workplace investigations in partnership with Human Resources.
Ensure operational leaders receive appropriate training and coaching regarding employment law requirements, company policies, and effective people management practices.
Provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for: Production, Logistics & Distribution, Quality Assurance, Sanitation, Maintenance, and Engineering
Maintains collaborative, dotted-line partnership responsibilities with: Environmental Health & Safety along with Human Resources