Leadman & Associates is partnering on an exclusive search for a proven Director of Bottling Operations to lead a major beverage production site in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

This high-impact role oversees one of the largest facilities within the company’s North American network - managing multiple bottling and canning lines while driving safety, efficiency, and team development. It’s an opportunity to lead an established operation that’s modernizing and growing, with strong leadership visibility and influence across the organization.

If you’re a process-driven, people-focused leader with experience in high-speed manufacturing or bottling, this role offers the chance to make a tangible impact and shape the next chapter of operational excellence.

Why You Should Consider This Opportunity

• High-Visibility Role: This site represents a major portion of the company’s North American production

• Modernization in Motion: Newly installed canning line and packaging line refurbishment underway

• Strong Culture of Safety: Top-performing audit scores and engaged workforce committed to improvement

• Strategic Leadership Seat: Reports directly to senior operations leadership with influence across multiple locations

• Work-Life Balance: Monday–Friday schedule with full plant shutdown between Christmas and New Year’s

• Career Growth Potential: Opportunity to mentor future plant leaders and influence long-term operational strategy

In This Role, You Will

• Lead and develop managers, supervisors, and professional staff across multiple bottling and canning lines

• Drive daily production performance to meet and exceed site KPIs (OEE, changeover, first-hour efficiency, cost per case)

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement throughout the facility

• Oversee compliance with OSHA, ISO, HACCP, GMP, TTB, DOT, and HAZMAT standards

• Manage plant budget, operational performance, and cost-saving initiatives

• Partner cross-functionally with Quality, Maintenance, CI, and Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment and readiness for new product launches

• Support Lean/World Class Manufacturing systems (TPM, Six Sigma, TRAK) to sustain long-term efficiency and performance

What You Bring to the Table

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business (Master’s preferred)

• 5–7 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, ideally in bottling or beverage production

• Proven ability to lead large teams in fast-paced, high-volume environments

• Experience implementing Lean, TPM, or CI tools to improve efficiency and reduce cost

• Strong financial and analytical skills with proven success managing plant budgets

• Collaborative leadership style with strong communication and change management skills

• Ability to develop emerging leaders and create a culture of trust, accountability, and engagement

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a leadership seat that comes with both challenge and opportunity. You’ll step into a visible role within a company that values safety, innovation, and people development - and you’ll have the autonomy to shape the future of a key North American production site.

If you’re energized by operational transformation, leading teams through change, and seeing measurable results from your work, this is the kind of role that defines a career.

Interested candidates can apply below or send an email to: jobs@leadmanandassociates.com