Manager, Operations - Dekalb, IL

Operations Manager

Attention military affiliated job seekers - our organization works with partner companies to source qualified talent for their open roles. The following position is available to Veterans, transitioning military, National Guard and Reserve members, military spouses, wounded warriors, and their caregivers. If you have the required skill set, education requirements, and experience, please follow the next steps. Unless specifically stated otherwise, this role is "On-Site" at the location detailed in the job post.

Due to the highly interactive nature of this manufacturing position, in-person attendance and flexibility are essential for supporting production schedules, effective communication and collaboration, real-time problem solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives. Schedules may vary and are subject to change.

The Operations Manager reports to the Sr. Site Director and is the engine behind our fast-paced candy distribution and packaging operation, leading everything from inbound raw materials to high-volume packaging and final preparation for warehousing and shipment. This role owns the daily execution of packaging operations, ensuring products move efficiently, safely, and accurately through the facility. The day-to-day operations include but are not limited to the management of personnel, overall factory performance, and the strategic planning for ensuring consistent quality of production, product improvement and assisting in new product development processing and launch.

Ways you will make a difference:

• Ensure team compliance with all safety policies, procedures and GMP's
• Leads effectively through hands on support and visibility on the production floor
• Maintain product quality and sanitation standards
• Optimize operational efficiencies to support the production, warehouse, and shipping of products
• Identify and coordinate operational improvements necessary to deliver the site annual operating plan (AOP). Ensure cost performance gaps are identified, action plans are developed, and resources are properly allocated
• Track operational output measures (i.e. efficiency, yield loss, product quality, inventory accuracy, transactional accuracy), anticipating and correcting trends which would compromise achievement of financial targets
• Develop and motivate teams to solve day-to-day operational issues and reach short- and long-term performance goals
• Deliver effective change leadership to drive business changes while minimizing people impact
• Builds people capability through effective employee relations, hiring, training, and communication for front-line hourly and salaried personnel
• Flex production plans on a shift-by-shift basis to prevent service issues and operational inefficiencies
• Optimize ingredient and packaging material usage to minimize scrap loss
• Coach teams to demonstrate continuous improvement in profitability margins, efficiencies and cost savings initiatives