Job Description
Job Description
Operations Director
Beverage Manufacturing | DFW Metro, Texas | Confidential Client Search
Position Snapshot
Location: DFW metro, Texas. Onsite, no hybrid.
Reports to: Senior Plant Director
Direct reports: 7 total: 5 business unit leaders, 1 planning manager, 1 process engineer (training focus)
Plant profile: Extra-large beverage manufacturing facility
Environment: Union plant, 24/7 operation
Compensation: plus performance-based bonus
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.
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
- 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 a structured continuous improvement methodology: IWS, Lean, or TPM. Actual implementation, not classroom exposure.
- Consumer packaging experience
- Demonstrated budget, cost management, and P&L ownership
- Experience leading in a union environment
- Able to support a 24/7 operation, including day or night shift coverage and occasional weekends
Preferred
- 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.