Director of Operations - Food Manufacturing

Job Description

Walker Bowen Talent Partners is proud to continue our partnership with a leading food manufacturer in Gardners, PA, in search of their next Director of Operations.

This is an on-site role; permanent position; candidates must be authorized to work in the US without current or future need of sponsorship.

About Our Client

Our client is a grower-owned cooperative and one of the most trusted names in food manufacturing, known for its strong heritage, commitment to quality, and collaborative culture. With multiple facilities across Pennsylvania, they produce top-quality brands and private-label products with pride and precision.

They maintain a tight-knit, servant-leadership-driven culture that values initiative, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

If you’re a proven operations leader who thrives on collaboration and transformation, this is your opportunity to make a significant impact.

Why Join Our Client?

• Stable, employee-owned cooperative with strong community roots.
• Collaborative and inclusive culture that values leadership and initiative.
• Opportunity to lead a major transition toward OEE-driven performance.
• Supportive executive leadership that mentors and empowers its teams.

If you’re an experienced food manufacturing operations leader with a passion for continuous improvement and hands-on collaboration, we’d love to hear from you.

This is an ideal time to join our client’s leadership team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of their operations.

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to provide strategic and hands-on leadership across all manufacturing facilities. Reporting to the VP of Operations, this role will drive operational excellence, lead Plant Managers, and champion continuous improvement initiatives across multiple production sites.

This position is ideal for a change agent who can balance strategic oversight with day-to-day operational engagement, ensuring all plants achieve and exceed performance goals.

What You’ll Do

Requirements

Who You Are

Benefits

Our client offers excellent benefits including, but not limited to :

Requirements

Who You Are 5–7 years of Director of Operations experience within Food Manufacturing, having previously served as a Plant Manager. Servant leader who builds trust and engagement across teams. Proven ability to lead transformation and foster collaboration among long-tenured employees. Strategic thinker who’s also hands-on when needed. Strong understanding of OEE, yield improvement, cost control, and throughput. Demonstrated experience managing manufacturing budgets, capital project approval cycles, and supporting Capex process. Lean Manufacturing experience preferred; certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement are a plus. Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills. Proficient in Microsoft Office; ERP experience preferred (Oracle a plus).