Overview

As the senior manufacturing leader for a brand-new, large-scale production facility, the Vice President of Manufacturing will play a pivotal role in launching and scaling operations. This hands-on executive will provide strategic direction, establish world-class manufacturing systems from the ground up, and guide the plant from start-up through full-scale production. The role requires a proven leader with deep experience in large plant operations, start-up environments, and continuous improvement within Food & Beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Define and execute the plant’s manufacturing strategy in alignment with corporate objectives.
• Lead all aspects of production, planning, and performance across safety, quality, cost, and delivery metrics.
• Champion operational readiness by ensuring infrastructure, personnel, and systems are fully prepared for launch.

Start-Up & Scaling Execution

• Direct plant commissioning and start-up efforts, including staffing, training, SOP development, and line validation.
• Partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and HR to ensure seamless execution of the start-up roadmap.
• Drive speed to performance while building a foundation for long-term scalability, reliability, and efficiency.

Team Development & Culture Building

• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team of manufacturing directors, managers, supervisors, and frontline employees.
• Build a plant culture centered on safety, accountability, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
• Lead with authenticity and integrity, setting clear expectations and fostering collaborative leadership at every level.

Continuous Improvement & Lean Execution

• Implement best practices and lean manufacturing principles to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality.
• Utilize data and KPIs to drive informed decisions and track operational performance.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, reliability, and cost control.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Sales & Operations Planning to ensure production capacity aligns with demand.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to establish and maintain rigorous food safety and regulatory compliance standards.
• Serve as the plant’s executive liaison with corporate leadership, ensuring alignment on performance, strategy, and priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership, including significant plant-level ownership.
• Proven success in new facility start-ups or major plant expansions.
• Extensive background in Food & Beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturing.
• Demonstrated expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other structured continuous improvement methodologies.
• Successful track record leading large teams in high-speed, high-volume environments.
• Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to translate operational strategy into measurable results.