PACKAGING OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

The Packaging Operations Director provides strategic and operational leadership for all packaging activities within a dairy manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for safely delivering production goals, ensuring product quality, developing high-performing teams, and driving continuous improvement across packaging operations. The Packaging Operations Director is accountable for operational performance, labor management, customer service, productivity, quality, cost control, and the execution of business objectives. This role partners closely with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Sanitation leaders to ensure seamless plant execution and attainment of business goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop packaging operations leaders and production teams to achieve business objectives.
• Build a culture focused on employee safety, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Coach, mentor, and develop managers and supervisors to strengthen organizational capability and succession planning.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability across all levels of the organization.
• Promote collaboration and effective communication within operations and across functional teams.
• Direct all packaging operations to achieve safety, quality, service, and cost objectives.
• Ensure execution of production plans while maximizing throughput and operational efficiency.
• Drive performance improvements through effective management of KPIs and operational metrics.
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly operational reviews to identify opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Ensure optimal utilization of labor, materials, and production assets.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, SQF, FDA, USDA, and company food safety requirements.
• Partner with Quality leadership to drive product quality and consumer safety.
• Support audit readiness, corrective actions, and continuous compliance improvements.
• Maintain adherence to all dairy regulatory and food safety standards.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives within packaging operations.
• Utilize data and performance metrics to drive improvements in OEE, waste reduction, labor productivity, and service levels.
• Champion root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions.
• Identify and implement operational best practices across packaging processes.
• Manage labor costs, productivity, and departmental operating expenses.
• Support annual budget planning and capital improvement initiatives.
• Drive cost savings through operational efficiencies and waste reduction.
• Ensure effective utilization of resources while meeting service and quality expectations.
• Partner with Maintenance leadership to maximize equipment reliability and line performance.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Warehouse teams to ensure packaging material availability and production schedule attainment.
• Work closely with Sanitation and Quality teams to maintain compliance and operational readiness.
• Support site initiatives and strategic business objectives established by the Site Operations Director.

Qualifications:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Dairy Science, Food Science, Operations Management, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and manufacturing leadership experience may be considered.

Experience

• 8+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in dairy, food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.
• Experience leading managers and supervisors in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success driving operational performance through Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Dairy manufacturing experience strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of dairy packaging operations and automated manufacturing systems.
• Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, SQF, FDA, USDA, and OSHA requirements.
• Proven ability to lead through change, develop leaders, and build high-performing teams.
• Strong financial acumen and operational decision-making skills.

Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities.