What are the responsibilities and job description for the Operations Supervisor position at Sterling Engineering?
Operations Supervisor | Plant Manager Track
Grand Rapids, MI | Direct Hire
Compensation: $80,000–100,000/year up to 10% annual bonus
A growing food manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Operations Supervisor to join a high-impact production facility in Grand Rapids, MI. This role is designed as a Plant Manager track opportunity and will oversee day-to-day plant operations across Production, Quality, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Warehouse functions.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong food manufacturing experience, proven team leadership skills, and a track record of driving operational performance in fast-paced production environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead daily plant operations across Production, Quality, Maintenance, Sanitation, and Warehouse departments
- Supervise and develop a team of approximately 40–55 employees
- Drive production performance while ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency standards are met
- Enforce GMPs, food safety programs, and regulatory compliance requirements
- Monitor KPIs related to labor, productivity, throughput, and operational efficiency
- Partner with Maintenance to reduce downtime and improve equipment reliability
- Work closely with Quality teams to maintain product integrity and resolve production issues
- Oversee sanitation readiness and support audit compliance initiatives
- Manage employee coaching, training, performance management, and corrective actions
- Support continuous improvement efforts focused on operational excellence and cost reduction
Qualifications
- 5 years of leadership experience within food or beverage manufacturing
- Experience managing large hourly teams in a production setting
- Strong understanding of GMPs and food safety systems such as HACCP, SQF, USDA, and FDA standards
- Experience leading cross-functional plant teams
- Strong leadership, accountability, and communication skills
- Ability to thrive in a high-volume, fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Bilingual English/Spanish highly preferred
- Lean manufacturing or continuous improvement experience is a plus
- High school diploma or GED required; additional education preferred
Salary : $80,000 - $100,000