Director of Operations (Baked Goods) - St. Paul, MN
Location: On Site in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States Employment type: Full-time Salary: $200,000 - $220,000 per year Why This Role Matters MissionHires is seeking a Director of Operations (Baked Goods) to lead end-to-end production operations across all shifts, overseeing production, maintenance, scheduling, sanitation, warehouse, safety, quality, HR collaboration, regulatory compliance, budgeting, and continuous improvement for a high-volume baking facility. This role drives operational excellence, cost control, people leadership, and on-time delivery while supporting Lean/Six Sigma and new product introductions. How You'll Contribute
- Lead development and implementation of strategies to maximize operational effectiveness and meet growth objectives
- Achieve business objectives while creating an accident-free workplace and delivering safe, quality products
- Drive continuous improvement in safety, productivity, product quality, customer service, work life quality, and manufacturing costs
- Own financial results of plant operations including annual manufacturing budget, cost analyses, and cost containment initiatives
- Adhere to and manage updates to the approved annual operations budget with the VP of Operations
- Provide managerial direction to manufacturing with a focus on continuous improvement and cost reduction
- Allocate resources (people, time, budget) to meet departmental goals and objectives
- Provide indirect leadership of HR activities to ensure strong employee relations and legal compliance
- Foster effective communication, coaching, development, and performance feedback across teams
- Maintain positive Employee Relations and support a union-free environment
- Direct maintenance to ensure facility and equipment readiness for operational goals
- Lead product planning and materials management to maintain efficient inventory levels
- Support warehouse and distribution to ensure on-time customer deliveries
- Provide indirect leadership to Quality Assurance, maintaining product integrity and GMPs
- Assist in establishing quality specifications and ensure adherence by plant teams
- Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory agencies
- Verify GMP and safety standards are maintained and address deficiencies promptly
- Monitor and validate daily operational schedules for accuracy and attainment of goals
- Track and report KPIs (quality, service, safety, cost) and align facility leadership on goals
- Conduct daily walkthroughs across all operational areas and maintain visibility on all shifts
- Provide strategic guidance through active participation in leadership meetings
- Participate in new product development, assessing cost and manufacturability
- Communicate and help implement new product production plans with supervisors
- Champion and support Lean and Six Sigma initiatives in the facility
What Makes You a Great Fit
- Bachelor’s degree required; preference for Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Food Science
- Minimum 10 years of experience in a baking production facility
- At least 5 years of experience leading a facility
- Working knowledge and hands-on implementation/maintenance of SQF Level III Certification in manufacturing
- Strong technical knowledge of baking equipment, products, and processes
- Excellent communication, coaching, and people leadership skills
- Self-motivated, results-oriented, and highly organized
- Receptive to performance feedback and able to respond positively
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
- Demonstrated success in safety, quality, budgeting, cost control, inventory, maintenance, warehouse/distribution, GMP, and regulatory compliance
- Experience with Lean and/or Six Sigma methodologies and tools