Head of Operations (Poultry)

Job Summary:

We are seeking a strategic and operationally driven Head of Operations to lead our end-to-end poultry processing operations, with a core focus on fully cooked, battered, and ready-to-eat (RTE) products. This senior leadership role will oversee multiple facilities and departments, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and alignment with the company's growth and quality objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide executive leadership over all aspects of operations including production, quality assurance, supply chain, maintenance, engineering, logistics, and sanitation across all facilities.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and improve product quality and profitability.

• Oversee the strategic execution of operational plans for fully cooked, battered, and RTE poultry products in accordance with USDA and customer standards.

• Lead organizational initiatives to strengthen food safety culture, employee engagement, and workplace safety.

• Collaborate closely with Sales, R&D, Finance, and Executive Leadership to support new product development, customer satisfaction, and long-term business objectives.

• Monitor and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) across all departments, including yield, labor efficiency, OEE, downtime, and customer fill rates.

• Ensure all operations comply with USDA, FDA, HACCP, SQF, GMP, and other regulatory requirements.

• Lead capital project planning and execution to support facility upgrades, capacity expansion, and automation efforts.

• Foster a high-performance culture through mentorship, accountability, and succession planning.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Food Science, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree is a plus.

• Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, with a strong preference for poultry industry experience.

• Proven track record managing fully cooked, battered, and RTE product lines in USDA-regulated facilities.

• Deep understanding of food safety, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance in high-volume production environments.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills.

• Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive executive compensation package, including base salary and performance-based bonuses

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with company match

• Executive-level PTO and benefits

• Relocation assistance available