Operations & Start-Up Manager

Foster a proactive safety culture with a goal of zero incidents while ensuring completion of required safety training, programs, and standards. Lead daily production operations and provide clear tactical direction to teams to meet schedule, service, quality, and performance targets. Develop and execute CQV and ramp-up strategies, including success criteria, KPIs, milestones, schedules, resource plans, and risk management. Lead structured ramp-up activities for new production lines and equipment from installation through operational readiness, stable production, and final handover to Operations. Facilitate hourly, daily, and weekly cross-functional meetings to monitor performance, resolve issues, remove roadblocks, and escalate risks. Establish clear priorities when competing needs arise across Operations, Engineering, R&D, Maintenance, and other functions. Drive execution of ramp-up plans, including operational trials, training, material readiness, equipment capability studies, and action tracking. Establish visual management systems and performance tracking tools that provide transparency into goals, actions, training, and ramp-up progress. Ensure CQV gating processes, required approvals, documentation, and sign-offs are completed and maintained within company systems. Support development and implementation of operating, setup, cleaning, maintenance, food safety, quality, and safety standards to ensure consistent and sustainable operations. Drive continuous improvement through Lean, Kaizen, TPM, 5S, standardized work, Poka-Yoke, Visual Factory, and other operational excellence methodologies. Optimize staffing models and develop a flexible, cross-trained workforce through effective training, competency development, and knowledge transfer. Build, coach, and develop high-performing teams while supporting employee engagement, accountability, succession planning, and morale. Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, R&D, Planning, Warehousing, and other support functions to drive operational performance and successful equipment/process handover. Ensure equipment and processes meet operational requirements, support acceptance testing, complete required documentation, and achieve sustainable production performance. Build strong cross-functional relationships and ensure teams remain focused on shared operational and ramp-up objectives. Create a culture of trust, inclusion, accountability, safety, and employee well-being. Establish clear goals and priorities while driving accountability through consistent communication and performance management. Bachelor's degree preferred; technical degrees in Engineering, Technology, Operations, or a related field strongly preferred. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. 3+ years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably with experience in production start-up, ramp-up, or new equipment implementation. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, TPM, 5S, Autonomous Maintenance, Poka-Yoke, Visual Factory, and other continuous improvement methodologies. Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and coordinating complex projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Strong understanding of production operations, equipment readiness, process capability, standardized work, and operational performance.