Vice President of Operational Excellence

**Job Summary**
The VP of Operational Excellence will be responsible for leading all aspects of maintenance, packaging, warehouse, shipping, and order fulfillment operations. This role is focused on optimizing processes, driving continuous improvement, implementing key performance indicators (KPIs), and improving profitability across the enterprise. The Manager will collaborate closely with the Finance, Production, and Sales leadership teams to ensure that operational strategies align with corporate objectives and deliver exceptional results in safety, quality, cost, and service.

**Responsibilities**
- Leadership & Vision _
- Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership to packaging, shipping, maintenance, and fulfillment teams to achieve and exceed performance goals.
- Communicate clear expectations regarding operational standards, fostering alignment with company policies and strategic goals.
- Build, coach, and develop a high-performing leadership team and workforce, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Partner with HR to implement training, leadership development, and employee engagement initiatives.
- Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement _
- Lead implementation of robust KPIs across safety, quality, service, and cost to ensure measurable progress toward organizational goals
- Drive lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and other CI methodologies to increase throughput, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.
- Develop and execute daily, weekly, and monthly production plans that align with site and corporate objectives.
- Oversee automation and process optimization initiatives to improve reliability and reduce labor costs.
- Partner with cross-functional teams on new product launches, facility expansions, and equipment upgrades.
- Financial & Strategic Management_
- Collaborate with Finance to build and manage operational and capital budgets, cost analyses, and forecasting tools.
- Monitor financial performance, identify variances, and implement corrective actions to ensure cost control and profit improvement.
- Evaluate and recommend capital investment opportunities to support long-term capacity and growth objectives.
- Compliance & Standards_
- Ensure compliance with all GMP, HACCP, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain facilities and equipment to meet company standards for safety, performance, appearance, and reliability.
- Establish and enforce SOPs, 3rd-party certification requirements, and QA programs to exceed customer expectations.
- Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Health and Safety departments to meet and exceed company objectives
- Collaboration & Partnerships_
- Work closely with Production, Finance, and Sales leaders to ensure operational readiness for new business, new markets, and acquisitions.
- Act as a key liaison between operations and executive leadership, providing visibility into progress, challenges, and opportunities

**Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field required.
- 15+ years of progressive operations leadership in food manufacturing, fresh produce, or related industries.
- Proven success implementing KPIs, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement initiatives that drive measurable results.
- Strong financial acumen.
- Demonstrated ability to scale operations, implement automation, and lead organizational change.
- Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, SQF, Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulatory compliance standards.
- Inclusive, high-integrity leader with excellent communication, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills

**Benefits**:

- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Life insurance

Work Location: In person