Operations Manager (Assistant Plant Manager)-1

Gapc is working with a growing national RTE food manufacturer that is seeking an Operations Manager, Southern Indiana.

This position is responsible for overseeing all daily plant operations including production and warehouse activities, ensuring efficiency, safety, quality, and compliance with food manufacturing standards.

***** MUST HAVE FOOD MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE *****

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage, and coordinate all aspects of production and warehouse operations to meet safety, quality, and delivery goals.
• Supervise and develop department managers, ensuring accountability and adherence to KPIs.
• Monitor daily operations and make real-time decisions to optimize throughput, minimize downtime, and manage labor efficiently.
• Collaborate with QA, Maintenance, Safety, and HR to ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, GMP, HACCP, and other regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement through lean manufacturing principles, waste reduction, and root cause analysis.
• Partner with Planning and Procurement to ensure proper inventory levels, raw material flow, and production scheduling.
• Implement and monitor performance metrics to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities.
• Support the Plant Manager with strategic initiatives, audits, and capital improvement projects.
• Ensure a culture of safety and accountability across all functional areas.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Business, Food Science, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a food manufacturing environment, preferably in ready-to-eat or perishable products.
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations, GMPs, HACCP, and warehouse best practices.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver measurable results.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar) preferred.

What’s in it for You:

• Salary range $110k to $120k
• Great benefits
• Amazing advancement opportunities

If you are interested and serious, please send your confidential resume to Gavin Brown at: gavin.brown@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.