Operations Director

Beverage Manufacturing | DFW Metro, Texas | Confidential Client Search

Position Snapshot

Location: DFW metro, Texas. Onsite, no hybrid.

Reports to: Senior Plant Director, based onsite

Direct reports: Seven total: six business unit leaders and one planning manager

Plant profile: Extra-large beverage manufacturing facility

Environment: Union plant, 24/7 operation

Compensation: Competitive base plus annual performance bonus and long-term incentive eligibility

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, 401k, wellness program, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, flexible time off, paid parental bonding leave

Relocation: Yes

About the Client

A large, well-established food and beverage manufacturer with a national footprint and a portfolio of nationally recognized consumer brands. Thousands of employees across more than a dozen U.S. production sites. This is one of their largest beverage facilities.

The Role

Own daily manufacturing operations for an extra-large beverage plant. You partner directly with the Senior Plant Director, lead the business unit leaders, and carry accountability for output, cost, safety, and quality.

This is a build-the-culture role as much as a run-the-plant role. The site runs a formal integrated work system and needs a leader who can drive accountability against it rather than simply administer around it.

The right person is either ready to step into a number one seat now, or on a clear path to Senior Plant Director and looking for the role that gets them there.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead short and medium term production strategy to optimize labor, materials, and workflow
• Drive accountability and cultural change through a structured integrated work system
• Monitor and improve plant performance across safety, quality, cost, delivery, engagement, and environmental metrics
• Provide direction across production, packaging, processing, planning, and purchasing
• Develop the leadership bench through coaching, accountability, and succession planning
• Manage operational budgets, cost controls, and P&L
• Partner with HR on hiring, performance, and employee relations in a union environment
• Oversee capital project planning and execution
• Ensure compliance with GMP, AIB, FDA, ISO, safety, and food quality standards

  Must Have

• 10+ years of production management experience in high-speed food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing
• Hands-on deployment of IWS, TPM, or an equivalent world class manufacturing system. Actual implementation, not classroom exposure. This is a firm requirement.
• Consumer packaging experience
• Demonstrated budget, cost management, and P&L ownership
• Experience leading in a union environment
• Track record of developing leaders, not just managing them
• Able to support a 24/7 operation, including day or night shift coverage and occasional weekends

  Preferred

• Prior Plant Director or Plant Manager experience
• 2+ years of aseptic and extended shelf life (ESL) processing experience
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or food science

Client name disclosed on qualified submittal.

200=225K + Bonus