Prepared Foods Head of Operations

Pay Range: $179,700-$251,500 per year DOE

About Foster Farms

At Foster Farms, our mission is creating great food and serving great moments. Our vision is to be the best and most trusted food company, empowering and nourishing the lives of those we serve. We measure our success by how well we protect and care for our team, our consumers, our animals, and our environment, while delivering operational excellence and exceptional value to our customers.

Position Summary

The Prepared Foods Head of Operations role is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing all operational aspects across five further-processing facilities. This leader provides strategic direction and drives excellence in safety, production, quality control, and regulatory compliance, supporting Foster Farms’ mission, vision, and ACTION guiding principles: Accountability, Collaboration, Truth-Seeking, Initiative, Ownership, and Nimbleness.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in lean manufacturing, experience with SQF audits, and knowledge of OSHA, USDA/FDA, and PSM regulatory standards. Additionally, they possess exceptional financial acumen and a passion for developing high-performing teams.

Essential Functions

• Develop, implement, and execute the operations strategy to achieve business goals and growth targets.
• Oversee the daily operation of ready-to-eat manufacturing, including production, plant maintenance, quality control, warehousing, and wastewater management.
• Implement and maintain lean manufacturing principles to optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance productivity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (safety, quality, engineering, compliance, and supply chain) to ensure business objectives are met and operational gaps are closed.
• Prepare and manage the operational budget, including cost control and forecasting.
• Drive financial performance through effective P&L management, identifying areas for improvement and operational efficiencies.
• Manage and report key performance indicators and operational metrics, consistently attaining goals for safety, quality, cost, and productivity.
• Cultivate a high-performance culture focused on accountability, continuous improvement, and personal development.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and industry standards (USDA, OSHA, PSM), as well as Foster Farms’ internal standards for safety, food safety, and environmental stewardship.
• Implement and enforce safety protocols to maintain a safe work environment for all team members.
• Build and lead a high-performing, diverse team of maintenance and reliability professionals, modeling Foster Farms’ ACTION principles in every decision and interaction.

Success Measures

• Safety: FSQA audit scores, safety rates, and environmental compliance.
• Operations: Yield efficiency, line efficiency, and labor management.
• Financial: Plant spend, EBITDA, and CapEx ROI.
• People: Retention, internal promotions, training, and team engagement.
• Customer: Key customer growth, perfect order rates, and household penetration.

Qualifications

• Relevant bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing; RTE or USDA experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success in leading plant operations with responsibility for safety, quality, productivity, and financial results.
• Strong knowledge of people and food safety systems, regulations, compliance, and risk management.
• Proven leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Budget management, cost control, continuous improvement/operational excellence skills and KPI-driven performance management.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and execute tasks in a changing and demanding work environment.
• Travel based on business need throughout assigned facilities.
• Demonstrated alignment with Foster Farms’ ACTION principles.

Foster Farms ACTION Guiding Principles

• Accountability: Deliver on commitments.
• Collaboration: Achieve more by working as a team.
• Truth-Seeking: Be open-minded and act with humility.
• Initiative: Be proactive and lead with a growth mindset.
• Ownership: Take responsibility for results.
• Nimble: Operate with speed and agility.

Why Join Foster Farms?

This is a high-impact opportunity to shape the future of the ready-to-eat business at a leading food company, directly supporting our mission, vision, and values. You will play a critical role in delivering safe, high-quality food and great moments for millions of families.

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