Director of Plant Operations

OVERVIEW: The Director of Plant Operations provides full strategic and operational leadership for Confidential’s San Bernardino manufacturing facility. This role is accountable for delivering world-class performance across safety, quality, service, cost, sustainability, and culture. The Director of Plant Operations drives measurable savings, operational efficiency, and structural cost improvements while continuously challenging legacy practices and driving operational discipline. This leader establishes disciplined management systems and leverages Lean Six Sigma best practices to strengthen performance across all plant functions.

The role ensures the site remains a flagship facility within Confidential — sustaining BRC AA certification, TRUE Zero status, and a strong Great Place to Work culture.

JOB FUNCTIONS:

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture with visible leadership and accountability at all levels.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA, FDA, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Drive proactive risk identification and continuous safety system improvement.

Food Safety, Quality & Audit Excellence

• Maintain and continuously improve the site’s BRC AA certification, the highest possible rating, ensuring rigorous adherence to all standards.
• Lead audit readiness for BRC, Organic, regulatory, and customer audits with a “always ready” mindset.
• Drive a culture where food safety and quality are non-negotiable and embedded in daily operations.
• Continuously reduce consumer complaints, holds, and quality losses through disciplined root cause analysis and prevention systems.

Operational Performance & Efficiency

• Own and deliver plant performance across OEE, throughput, yield, labor efficiency, scrap, cost-per-gallon, and service metrics.
• Drive aggressive cost savings initiatives, productivity improvements, and waste reduction efforts.
• Challenge legacy processes and organizational norms to unlock new levels of efficiency and performance.
• Lead structured problem-solving to eliminate chronic losses and improve asset reliability.
• Align production plans with demand while minimizing overtime and cost variability.

Continuous Improvement & Cost Leadership

• Lead and mature CI systems including daily operational meetings, visual management, standard work, layered process audits, and root cause problem-solving.
• Deliver year-over-year productivity and cost improvement targets aligned with EBITDA commitments.
• Identify automation, process redesign, and capital opportunities that drive long-term structural cost advantage.
• Create a culture that expects continuous improvement rather than incremental maintenance of the status quo.

Sustainability & TRUE Zero Leadership

• Lead and sustain the site’s TRUE Zero Waste certification, ensuring landfill diversion goals remain a top operational priority.
• Integrate sustainability into daily decision-making, capital planning, and team engagement.
• Drive continuous improvement in waste reduction, energy efficiency, water stewardship, and environmental compliance.
• Reinforce sustainability as a shared responsibility across all functions.

Financial Stewardship

• Own full plant P&L performance and annual operating plan commitments.
• Manage operating budgets, capital planning, and cost controls with strong financial rigor.
• Drive disciplined labor planning, inventory management, and working capital optimization.
• Ensure financial decisions are supported by strong data analytics and operational insights.

People, Culture & Great Place to Work

• Maintain and strengthen the site’s Great Place to Work culture through leadership visibility, engagement, and accountability.
• Champion a Culture of Excellence that balances high performance with respect, development, and recognition.
• Build and develop a strong leadership bench with clear succession plans.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration and ownership at all levels.
• Model Confidential values in all interactions and decisions.
• Drive employee engagement scores upward year over year through action-oriented follow-through.

Strategic Alignment & Change Leadership

• Translate corporate strategy into executable site-level roadmaps.
• Lead change initiatives effectively across operations, engineering, and support functions.
• Act as a key voice in network strategy, capacity planning, and capital allocation decisions.
• Communicate transparently and align teams during periods of transformation.

Leadership Expectations

• Challenges complacency and drives disciplined execution.
• Demonstrates strong financial acumen and operational analytics capability.
• Visible, floor-based leadership presence.
• Makes tough decisions with clarity and integrity.
• Balances urgency with long-term strategic thinking.
• Holds teams accountable for measurable results.

MUST HAVE:

• Ability to communicate effectively
• Must be punctual, with an excellent attendance record
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision and excel in prioritization and time management
• Must be able to understand and carry out instructions furnished in written and oral form
• Must be able to work collaboratively and follow instructions

MUST HAVE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 10 years of progressive leadership in food & beverage manufacturing.
• 5 years in a senior plant leadership role (Plant Manager or Director).
• Demonstrated experience maintaining BRC/SQF certification at highest level.
• Strong working knowledge of BRC/SQF systems and regulatory food safety standards.
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Proven track record of delivering cost savings, productivity improvements, and EBITDA growth.
• Experience leading sustainability initiatives and waste reduction programs.

NICE TO HAVE:

• Experience in refrigerated beverage manufacturing, HPP, cold-fill, or aseptic processing.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt).
• Experience leading TRUE Zero or equivalent sustainability programs.
• Demonstrated success driving Great Place to Work or high-engagement culture initiatives.
• Experience managing large and complex workforce.