Operations Manager

The Operations Manager is a key leadership position overseeing Sojo’s “Hub” manufacturing team. This role is responsible for executing Sojo’s packaging operations safely and efficiently. The production manager will work directly with the Region Planning Director to develop production schedules based on customer orders, production capacity, and available WIP. The Production Manager will work in coordination with the Supply Chain Manager to ensure smooth daily operations of the “Hub” Operation. The Operations Manager is required to be on site M-F and is responsible for 24/6 operations with expectations of seeing all 3 shifts multiple times a week and being on-call during Saturday production for production escalations.

Responsibilities

• Develop a winning culture across the production team, relentlessly focusing on the customer, exceeding expectations, and continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, local regulations, and company safety standards
• Work closely with Quality Team to resolve non-conformances and customer complaints through Root Cause Analysis
• Ensure regulatory compliance, including SQF guidelines and site GMP’s are being followed and documentation thoroughly and properly recorded
• Support audits (internal, customer, regulatory) and implement corrective actions
• Ensure employees are trained and execute the necessary onboarding and training programs by position.
• Lead, coach, and supervise production supervisors, line leads, and operators
• Ensure proper staffing, shift coverage, and training for all production lines
• Conduct performance evaluations and support employee development initiatives
• Ensure correct materials and WIP is used for work orders and the WMS is used as designed to maintain FEFO and traceability to work orders
• Manage Production Schedules, conversions, and staffing to deliver better than target total production volumes and cost per case.
• Implement Standard Operating Procedures, checklists, and routine meetings to ensure continuous improvement
• Own and deliver operational and financial KPI’s including throughput, uptime, and gross margins
• Ensure proper labor staffing and approval of weekly staffing hours. Manage the overall labor pool and labor demand planning and coordinate recruiting and training efforts.
• Coordinate with the Planning Director and Supply Chain Manager to ensure WIP and packaging materials are available ahead of production runs
• Coordinate with customers as needed for production requirements and specific requests
• Manage and develop personnel by performance assessment and feedback. Establish development goals with staff.
• Coordinate with the maintenance team for equipment conversions and line downtime for preventative maintenance while delivering on-time-in-full customer orders.
• Ordering all production supplies – consumables including glue, stretch wrap, cleaning supplies, PPE, etc.