Vice President of Manufacturing
Location: California
Industry: Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Employment Type: Full Time - Executive Leadership
About the Company
A leading, multi‑site food and beverage manufacturer known for high‑quality brands, strong operational discipline, and a commitment to safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement. With a diverse portfolio of products and a nationwide distribution network, the organization is investing in its next phase of growth and modernizing its manufacturing footprint to meet rising consumer demand.
Position Overview
The Vice President of Manufacturing will serve as the senior operations leader responsible for developing and executing manufacturing strategy across a network of production facilities. This role oversees plant performance, operational excellence, food safety, regulatory compliance, capital planning, and organizational capability-building.
The ideal candidate is a seasoned executive with deep experience in large‑scale food or beverage manufacturing, a passion for people leadership, and a track record of transforming operations for safety, efficiency, and culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for all manufacturing operations across multiple facilities.
- Drive world‑class performance in safety, quality, service, cost, and continuous improvement.
- Build, coach, and mentor high‑performing plant leadership teams; foster a culture of accountability and empowerment.
- Lead deployment of operational excellence methodologies (Lean, TPM, Six Sigma, SPC, etc.).
- Oversee food safety, regulatory compliance, sanitation, and quality system performance.
- Establish and manage annual operating budgets, KPIs, and multi-year capital investment plans.
- Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, HR, R&D, and Finance to align operations with portfolio growth and innovation initiatives.
- Develop long-term manufacturing strategy, including network optimization, automation, digital transformation, and sustainability goals.
- Serve as an executive leader in crisis management, risk mitigation, and business continuity planning.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing; multi-site responsibility strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of improving operational performance through Lean, TPM, or similar methodologies.
- Strong understanding of food safety systems (e.g., HACCP, SQF, FSMA, GFSI).
- Demonstrated experience leading significant capital projects, plant expansions, or modernization initiatives.
- Exceptional people leader with the ability to inspire, coach, and develop senior-level talent.
- Strong financial acumen and experience managing large budgets.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, complex, highly collaborative environment.
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred (MBA, Engineering, Food Science, or related field).
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
Yes. Even if this role isn’t a perfect match, applying allows us to understand your expertise and ambitions, ensuring you're on our radar for the right opportunity when it arises.
We also work in several ways, firstly we advertise our roles available on our site, however, often due to confidentiality we may not post all. We also work with clients who are more focused on skills and understanding what is required to future-proof their business.
That's why we recommend registering your CV so you can be considered for roles that have yet to be created.
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