Director of Operations
Director of Operations - Packaging
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
Industry: Packaging / Manufacturing / Consumer Goods
Position Overview
The Director of Operations will lead and scale manufacturing and packaging operations across facilities in the Tampa Bay area. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people while advancing automation, continuous improvement, and performance management.
This is a hands‑on leadership role suited for an operations leader who thrives in fast‑paced manufacturing environments and has deep experience with packaging lines, equipment reliability, and production systems.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Own end‑to‑end operational performance for packaging and manufacturing operations, including safety, quality, productivity, cost, and service
- Lead plant and operations leadership teams to ensure consistent execution of production plans
- Establish and track KPIs focused on throughput, waste reduction, OEE, labor efficiency, and on‑time delivery
Packaging & Manufacturing Performance
- Oversee high‑speed and automated packaging lines, including primary and secondary packaging operations
- Drive equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and capital project execution
- Partner with Engineering and Maintenance to prioritize automation, line optimization, and capacity expansion
Continuous Improvement
- Lead Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce scrap, downtime, and changeover times
- Standardize best practices, SOPs, and work instructions across operations
- Build a data‑driven operating cadence using dashboards and performance reviews
People & Culture
- Develop and mentor Plant Managers, Operations Managers, and frontline leaders
- Build strong succession plans and leadership pipelines
- Foster a culture of accountability, safety, engagement, and continuous improvement
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Supply Chain, Quality, R&D, and Commercial teams to support customer requirements and growth
- Support new product launches, packaging changes, and commercialization efforts
- Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards as applicable (GMP, SQF, HACCP)
Qualifications
Required
- 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in packaging, manufacturing, or consumer goods
- Proven experience leading packaging operations with automated or high‑volume production lines
- Strong background in Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or Operational Excellence
- Demonstrated ability to lead multi‑shift teams and develop leaders
- Solid financial acumen with experience managing budgets, labor, and capital
Preferred
- Experience in food & beverage, CPG, corrugated, or plastics packaging
- Multi‑site or regional operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or Business (MBA a plus)
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
What Success Looks Like
- Improved safety performance and reduced recordable incidents
- Increased line efficiency and OEE
- Reduced waste, scrap, and downtime
- Strong leadership bench and improved employee engagement
- Scalable operations ready to support growth
Why Join Us
- Growing packaging organization with strong investment in automation and infrastructure
- Senior leadership visibility and influence
- Opportunity to shape operations strategy and execution in a high‑impact role
FAQs
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