Confidential Operations Manager – Food Manufacturing (Elgin, IL Area)

A well-established, privately held food manufacturing company in the western suburbs of Chicago is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead daily plant operations in a fast-paced, high-volume production environment.

This organization has built a strong reputation in the specialty dry powder mix and contract manufacturing space, serving customers across healthcare, hospitality, convenience retail, and international markets. With a modern 96,000 sq. ft. facility featuring state-of-the-art production, packaging, quality control, and R&D capabilities, the company continues to invest in innovation, equipment, and new product lines.

The culture is collaborative and family-oriented, with an open-door leadership style and a strong emphasis on accountability, trust, and continuous improvement. This is a highly visible leadership role with direct impact on plant performance and long-term growth.

Position Overview

The Operations Manager will oversee all daily manufacturing operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality production while driving operational excellence across departments. This role leads a cross-functional leadership team and approximately 70 indirect production employees.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives on the plant floor, builds strong relationships with department managers, and knows how to delegate effectively while driving performance and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations across production, quality, logistics, inventory, and sanitation

• Manage and mentor a leadership team of 5 direct reports and ~70 indirect employees

• Drive safety, GMP compliance, and regulatory standards across the facility

• Lead production meetings multiple times per week

• Monitor KPIs related to cost, efficiency, downtime, quality, and delivery performance

• Identify and spearhead continuous improvement initiatives

• Play a key role in audits, regulatory compliance, and operational best practices

• Foster a culture of accountability, trust, and teamwork

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing operations (Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Production Manager, General Manager, etc.)

• Strong preference for food manufacturing experience

(Highly regulated environments such as beverage, pharma, cosmetics, chemicals, or CPG also considered)

• Solid understanding of GMPs, OSHA standards, audits, HACCP, and/or SQF

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Business, Engineering, Food Science, or related field

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in fast-paced environments

• Hands-on leadership style with strong delegation and prioritization skills

Preferred (Nice to Have)

• Experience driving KPIs related to cost control and machine downtime through ERP systems

• Bilingual in English & Spanish

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Stable, privately held company with strong growth and long-term vision

• Modern manufacturing facility with advanced production and R&D capabilities

• Family-like culture with approachable leadership and minimal bureaucracy

• High-impact role with full ownership of plant operations

• Opportunity to lead continuous improvement and shape the future of operations

Compensation & Details

• Salary Range: $90,000 – $120,000 (flexible for highly qualified food manufacturing leaders)

• Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire (Direct hire considered for top talent)

• Location: Elgin, IL area

• Schedule: Typically 45 hours/week (busier seasons may reach 50–55 hours/week)

• Benefits available upon conversion (health, dental, PTO, 401k)

If you’re a hands-on operations leader with experience in food or regulated manufacturing and are looking for a high-impact role in a growing organization, this could be an excellent next step.