Prepared Foods Head of Operations at Foster Farms in Livingston, CA

Job description

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

Responsibilities

• 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Skills

Required

• Leadership
• Communication
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving
• Budget management
• Cost control
• KPI-driven performance management

Preferred

• Lean manufacturing
• SQF audits
• Financial acumen