Director of Operations

Job Title: Director of Operations

Department: Operations

Status: Exempt

Reports To: Vice President

Schedule: As Required to Fulfill (45+) Job Requirements

Our Company

Shank's, a subsidiary of Universal Ingredients, is a premier manufacturer of vanilla extracts, other extracts, natural and artificial flavors, food colors, syrups, and sauces. Shank's quality products are widely distributed to industrial, private-label, and grocery customers worldwide.

Universal Ingredients

Universal Ingredients is a global supplier of high-quality, plant-based specialty ingredients for human and pet consumption. With thousands of products and global sourcing capabilities, we provide customized, value-added solutions - including fruit and vegetable juices and concentrates, dehydrated ingredients, botanical extracts, flavors, and beverage systems - for food and beverage manufacturers worldwide.

Our advanced production capabilities, including aseptic beverage processing and flexible packaging solutions, enable safe, shelf-stable products with no preservatives. At the heart of our innovation is our Application Capabilities Lab, where food science experts collaborate with customers to develop market-ready solutions through product development, flavor analysis, sensory testing, and commercialization support.

Driven by innovation, sustainability, and partnership, Universal Ingredients helps customers stay ahead of evolving consumer preferences while delivering consistent quality, functionality, and performance across global markets.

Available Immediately Upon Hire: Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, HSA, EAP, ID Theft, 401K, and PTO.

Disclaimer: Shank's Extracts manufactures various products that identify as major food allergens (milk, eggs, tree nuts, wheat, and soybeans) as well as several other food ingredients. We cannot guarantee you will not be exposed to skin and/or odor contact with these various ingredients. Your health and safety are our number one priority, and we will do our best to accommodate within reason.

Summary

The Director of Operations is responsible for leading Shank's manufacturing and operational activities to deliver safe, high-quality products while ensuring high service, productivity, cost, inventory performance, and organizational capability while prioritizing Employee Safety. The Director of Operations is expected to balance day-to-day execution with longer-term operational transformation and sustainment activities, creating a culture of accountability, problem solving, continuous improvement, and cross-functional teamwork.

OBJECTIVES OF THIS ROLE:

• Sustained leadership development in Operations.
• Sustained Employee and Food Safety culture.
• Maximize efficiency and productivity through extensive process analysis and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Set strategic goals for operational efficiency resulting in high Quality, Food Safety, and increased productivity.
• Work with Department Managers in the development of financial and budgetary plans.
• Analyze current operational processes and performance, recommending solutions for improvement where necessary.
• Work closely with Engineering in development of capital expenditure plans/projects.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the team with integrity and to establish and maintain a trusting, inclusive, and productive environment that reflects Universal Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Partner closely with Supply Chain, Quality, Commercial, Finance, and Business Systems to ensure execution of company goals.
• Develop, implement, and monitor day-to-day operational systems and processes to provide visibility into the goals, progress, and obstacles pertaining to Shank's key initiatives.
• Draw on relationships with department heads, external partners, and vendors to make decisions regarding operational activity and strategic goals.
• Plan, monitor, and analyze key metrics for day-to-day operations to ensure efficient and timely completion of tasks.
• Devise strategies for ensuring the growth of programs company-wide and implement process improvements to maximize Employee Safety, Food Safety, Quality, Delivery, and minimize Costs while ensuring a People focus.
• Adhere to the company's policies and standards and ensure that laws and regulations are being followed to ensure operating discipline.
• Work closely with the Safety Manager and Safety committee to ensure execution of Shank's Safety programs and foster a behavior-based safety culture that results in high levels of employee safety.
• Identify production constraints and work to reduce/remove them from the production process to improve equipment efficiencies and enhance Quality, Food Safety, and productivity.
• Encourage and promote operating in a continuous improvement environment.
• Ensure effective production planning and execution to drive high customer service levels and operational efficiencies.
• Work closely with the Quality Assurance department to ensure high product quality and to conformance to specification.
• Ensure Maintenance department maintains focus on preventative maintenance, process/continuous improvement, and equipment reliability.
• Review and support department heads in performance management.
• Ensure Shank's facilities are maintained to "audit ready" standards.
• Collaborate with HR team on personnel, training, performance management, investigations, and employee relations.
• Build and maintain a culture of trust, integrity, teamwork, and mutual respect.
• Conduct performance reviews.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS:

Lead from the floor. Maintain strong visibility within manufacturing and understand problems where the work occurs.

Create accountability. Establish clear ownership, measurable expectations, and consistent follow-through.

Use data to run the business. Build operational decisions around facts, KPIs, root causes, and financial impact rather than anecdotal information.

Break down functional silos. Build stronger connectivity between Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance, R&D, and Business Systems.

Build sustainable processes. Fix underlying processes instead of repeatedly solving the same operational problems.

Develop the organization. Build strong supervisors and managers so operational performance does not depend on one individual.

ESSENTIAL/SKILLS NEEDED:

• Must have strong leadership skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate well with all departments.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to interact well with a diverse group of internal and external people, including staff, customers, co-workers, and all others involved in the manufacturing process. Experience in creating a cohesive team.
• Able to make decisions, is goal-oriented, self-motivated, proactive, and able to solve multi-dimensional problems.
• Strong working knowledge of industry regulations and legal guidelines.
• Able to work irregular or extended hours as needed to connect with staff on all shifts.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience
• Food manufacturing management background required.
• Experienced with hiring, training, supervising, and terminating employees, including developing strong production teams and supporting employee retention.
• Experienced working within a budget and being accountable for company equipment, facilities, and other material assets.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Light physical effort working regularly with light-weight items, sustained standing position and walking or continuous motion.
• Standing, walking around the work area, up and down stairs, and equipment. Handles paperwork, operating machinery, normal, average vision and hearing to see computer, paperwork, and equipment, and to hear customers and staff. Seldom exposed to dirt, heat, cold, dryness, wetness, vibration and poor ventilation. Occasionally exposed to dust. Regularly exposed to odor. Frequently exposed to noise.
• Exposure to food allergens such as, but not limited to, milk eggs, tree nuts, wheat, and soybeans will occur.

Conduct, Quality, Integrity, and Culture

Conduct: We will conduct every aspect of our business with honesty, integrity, and openness, respecting human rights and the interests of our employees, customers, and third parties.

Quality: Shank's is committed to food safety and product quality. We employ extensive food safety programs and controls at all levels. Our quality standards and food safety procedures are thoroughly being evaluated internally and externally. We continuously strive to improve our performance.

Integrity: Shank's and its employees will not offer, give, seek or receive, either directly or indirectly, improper inducements for business or financial gain. Where information is confidential, that confidentiality must be protected.

Culture: Shank's respects the cultural values of our employees, contractors, and customers. We also promote a balanced work-life environment. We recognize and celebrate our employees for their hard work and the contributions they make to our company.

Shanks Core Values:

ASPIRATION: Share a vision for achievement

ACCOUNTABILITY: Support company reputation

ADAPTABILITY: Evolve to meet business needs

EOE M/F/Disabled/Vet Employer

All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.