Operations Manager

Operations Manager – Confidential Food Manufacturer Western Kentucky (new facility) $100,000 – $120,000 + benefits

About the Opportunity

A growing confidential food manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead their new state-of-the-art facility (4 production lines) in Western Kentucky. This role offers the chance to make a significant impact in a smaller, fast-growing plant environment while still being part of a larger organization with strong resources and long-term stability.

This is an exciting time to join – you’ll be helping shape the future of the facility, its team, and its operations.

What You’ll Do

Oversee daily plant operations including production and warehouse functions

Lead, mentor, and develop department managers and hourly teams

Drive KPI performance in safety, quality, throughput, and labor efficiency

Partner cross-functionally with QA, Maintenance, Safety, and HR

Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, GMP, HACCP, and food safety standards

Champion continuous improvement using Lean / 5S and root cause analysis

Manage inventory flow and scheduling in partnership with Planning / Procurement

Support strategic initiatives, audits, and capital improvement projects

Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and employee engagement

What We’re Looking For

Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Business, Food Science, or related field (or equivalent experience)

5+ years of leadership experience in food manufacturing – ready-to-eat or perishable products preferred

Strong knowledge of GMPs, HACCP, food safety compliance, and warehouse best practices

Track record of leading cross-functional teams and delivering measurable results

Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills

ERP experience (SAP, Oracle, or similar) a plus; bilingual English / Spanish highly valued

Why Join Us?

• Competitive base salary $100K–$120K
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Work in a new facility with modern equipment and strong corporate backing
• Be a key leader in shaping operations and building team culture
• Long-term growth opportunities within a stable and expanding company

If you are a proven food manufacturing operations leader looking to take on a visible, high-impact role in Western Kentucky, we want to hear from you!

Apply today and take the next step in your leadership career.

For immediate consideration, email your confidential resume to hillary.cooley@gogpac.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.