What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Vice President Operations position at Consumer Connection, Inc.?
*THIS IS NOT A JOB WITH CONSUMER CONNECTION*
Our high-growth, CPG food manufacturing client in the greater Portland area is seeking an SVP of Operations (Manufacturing-focused) to join their multi-plant site.
Position Summary
The Senior Vice President of Operations serves as the strategic and operational leader responsible for the performance, scalability, and long-term competitiveness of the organization’s production and supply chain. As a key executive team member, this leader drives operational strategy, fosters a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and oversees Production, Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse/Cold Storage, Transportation Logistics, and Procurement.
This executive will guide the organization through its next stage of growth by strengthening operational discipline, investing in people and systems, improving margins, and preparing the business for scale. The SVP must bring strong strategic judgment, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to influence change across all levels of the organization.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Business Growth
• Partner with the CEO and executive team to refine and execute the organization’s strategic growth plan.
• Translate business priorities into operational plans with clear accountability, measurable outcomes, and cross-functional alignment.
• Develop a multi-year operational capabilities roadmap to support volume expansion, product innovation, and customer expectations.
Operational Excellence & Efficiency
• Lead day-to-day operations across production, warehouse, logistics, quality, maintenance, and sanitation to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable output.
• Implement continuous improvement and Lean/CI methodologies to reduce waste, increase throughput, and drive cost efficiency.
• Ensure world-class food safety and quality standards; maintain all regulatory compliance (e.g., FDA, USDA, HACCP, SQF).
Financial & P&L Responsibility
• Own and manage the operations budget, labor planning, yield, inventory, overhead, and capital spending.
• Improve operational performance margins through process optimization, sourcing strategy, and disciplined cost control.
• Build robust operational KPIs and ensure transparency, decision-ready reporting, and accountability.
People Leadership & Culture
• Strengthen a high-performance leadership pipeline by coaching, developing, and mentoring team members at all levels.
• Model visible commitment to safety, trust, and teamwork across all operating areas.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, problem-solving, and operational ownership.
Technology, Automation & Systems
• Identify and implement technologies and automation that increase productivity and reduce cost.
• Improve data visibility and accuracy across operational systems (e.g., ERP/MES, yield tracking, scheduling, forecasting).
Cross-Functional Alignment
• Partner with Sales, Finance, HR, and Supply Chain leadership to ensure predictable scheduling, resource planning, and production readiness.
• Represent Operations in customer discussions, audits, and strategic planning forums.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
• Bachelor’s degree required — Engineering, Operations, Business, Supply Chain, or related field.
• MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
Experience
• 15 years of progressive leadership in operations, production, supply chain, or manufacturing (experience in food, beverage, agriculture, cold-storage, or CPG environments required).
• 7 years leading senior-level people managers and cross-functional teams.
• Proven success managing P&L and capital projects.
• Demonstrated achievement in continuous improvement, Lean/Six Sigma, and operational turnaround or scale-up.
Competencies
• Visionary operator capable of building strategy and executing tactically.
• Highly skilled communicator and relationship builder.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen.
• Able to lead through change and motivate diverse teams.
• Confident, grounded leadership presence; models accountability and humility.
• Desire for challenge and upward mobility to C-suite roles.
Physical Work Environment
This role operates in an office environment with frequent presence required in production and cold-storage warehouse areas. Routine use of standard PPE is required.
Relocation is available
NO VISA
Must be a U.S. citizen
