Director of Operations

Overview

We are recruiting on behalf of a well-established, privately held food ingredient manufacturer with more than 75 years of operating history in California’s Central Valley. The business is a processor and supplier of premium specialty food ingredients to clients across the food and beverage and foodservice industries. The company operates four production facilities across the region and holds multiple food safety certifications including BRC, GFSI, USDA Organic, and Halal.

Following a period of significant investment and leadership strengthening, the business is entering a new phase of strategic growth. This newly created Director of Operations role is a critical hire — an opportunity to join at an inflection point and build the operational infrastructure that will underpin the next stage of the company’s development.

The Director of Operations will have full accountability for end-to-end plant operations across all four facilities, leading a team of four to six direct reports. This is a high-impact, senior leadership role suited to an operator who thrives in a hands-on, multi-site environment and has a demonstrated track record of implementing operational excellence in a food manufacturing setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operations across multiple food manufacturing facilities in a 24/7 environment, driving throughput, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Develop and execute the operational strategy for the division, aligning all activities with company-wide goals for growth and profitability.
• Build and implement a performance operating system — KPIs, Balanced Scorecard, and data dashboards — to drive visibility and accountability across all sites.
• Own the Operations P&L, including budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and cost-per-unit improvement.
• Lead and develop a direct leadership team of four to six, building long-term organizational capability and succession plans.
• Drive a continuous improvement culture through Lean and Six Sigma methodologies with measurable ROI.
• Ensure full compliance with safety, food safety, and environmental regulations, championing a strong safety culture.
• As a newly created role, build structure and process from the ground up, working effectively within a long-established, experienced operation.

Requirements:
Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in food and beverage or food ingredient manufacturing.
• Proven track record leading complex, multi-site plant operations.
• Background in agricultural or agribusiness-related food manufacturing, with a broad working knowledge across plant management disciplines.
• Demonstrated success implementing operational excellence programmes — Lean, Six Sigma, KPI frameworks, or Balanced Scorecard.
• Strong financial acumen with direct P&L ownership and cost optimisation experience.
• Solid knowledge of food safety, health, safety, and environmental regulations in a manufacturing context.
• High integrity, data-driven mindset, and the ability to execute in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
• Willing to be based in or relocate to the Central Valley, California region.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in citrus, juice processing, or specialty food ingredient manufacturing, including knowledge of silo and plant operations.
• Degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field — or equivalent experience.
• Familiarity with GFSI, BRC, USDA Organic, or similar certification environments.
• Experience with ERP systems and operational data analytics tools.

Benefits:
Base Salary: $190,000 – $200,000 per annum

Bonus: Discretionary performance bonus based on company results

Relocation: Relocation assistance is available for the right candidate

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

Commitment to Diversity: Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

Reasonable Accommodations: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.

Compensation Information: For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post. If not provided, it will be shared during the interview process in accordance with applicable laws. When required by law, salary ranges will be included in job postings. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location.

Compliance with Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Workplace Harassment: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients expressly prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

E-Verify Participation: Keller Executive Search and/or our clients may participate in E-Verify. Information about E-Verify participation will be provided during the application process where applicable.

Privacy and Pay Equity:

California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect for recruiting and employment purposes, please review our Privacy Policy at www.kellerexecutivesearch.com.

Colorado, Nevada, New York City, California, and Washington Residents: Compensation information is available in the job post or will be provided during the interview process if not initially available.

Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable laws.

State-Specific Information:

Rhode Island: We do not request or require salary history from applicants.

Connecticut: We provide wage range information upon request or before discussing compensation.

New Jersey: We do not inquire about salary history unless voluntarily disclosed.

Veteran Status: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients provide equal employment opportunities to veterans and comply with applicable state laws regarding veteran preference in employment. If you are a veteran, please inform us during the application process.

Genetic Information: In accordance with federal and state laws, both Keller Executive Search and our clients do not discriminate based on genetic information. We do not request or require genetic information from applicants or employees, except as permitted by law.

Local Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with all applicable local laws and ordinances regarding employment practices in the areas where we operate.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters. Our use of AI is designed to enhance fairness, consistency, and efficiency while maintaining our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination principles.

Note: This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment laws and requirements may vary depending on the employer and location.