Growing food manufacturer in the Chicago suburbs is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Manager that will direct daily production operations to maximize throughput, ensure uncompromising food safety, and drive cost efficiency. Leading a multi-shift team in a high-volume food manufacturing environment, this role champions continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) and fosters a proactive culture of workplace safety and regulatory compliance.

Key ResponsibilitiesOperations & Continuous Improvement Production Velocity:

Drive daily manufacturing processes to consistently meet or exceed throughput, yield, and schedule adherence targets.

OEE Optimization:

Partner with maintenance and engineering to eliminate bottlenecks, minimize downtime, and maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

Lean Execution:

Lead plant-wide Lean, 5S, and Six Sigma initiatives to reduce ingredient waste, optimize labor, and streamline workflows.

Food Safety, Compliance & Quality Audit Readiness:

Maintain year-round, audit-ready compliance with

FDA, USDA, OSHA

, and SQF/BRC standards.

Sanitation & Hygiene:

Oversee strict allergen management, Clean-in-Place (CIP) protocols, and QA partnerships to eliminate contamination risks.

Safety Leadership:

Champion a zero-incident safety culture through behavioral safety audits, root-cause analyses, and compliance training.

Leadership & Financial Accountability Team Development:

Manage, mentor, and build a high-performing team of supervisors and operators across a multi-shift operation.

P&L Management:

Manage the departmental OpEx and labor budgets, actively tracking and correcting unfavorable variances in yield and labor.

Qualifications Experience:

7+ years in manufacturing leadership, with 3+ years specifically in food/beverage processing or high-speed CPG.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.

Credentials:

HACCP and SQF Practitioner certifications highly preferred; Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt is a major plus.

Tech Skills:

Proficiency with ERP/MES systems (SAP, NetSuite) and automated processing/packaging equipment. #jdp