Flint Food Works Director — Production and Operations Manager

Working/Functional Title

Flint Food Works Director

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment, which requires all staff to contribute toward a vision for success regardless of title or position within the organization. We strive to create a positive culture, access to resources, and a sense of belonging for staff, partners, and programming participants. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is available to all audiences, creates meaningful and positive impacts for participants, and demonstrates partnership and collaboration across communities.
• We understand that a welcoming and respectful environment is built through the efforts of everyone.
• We foster an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive.

We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and supportive culture. We foster an environment that values a range of perspectives, skills, and experiences by working to ensure access to programming for communities. We commit to continuous learning and engagement to better serve Michigan residents and meet the evolving needs of communities.

We recognize that broad accessibility and collaboration are essential elements of our work and are vital to organizational and programmatic success. We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching, and feedback toward achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff. Together we will achieve success, and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.

The Flint Food Works Operations Manager serves as the primary leader responsible for the day‑to‑day management, production oversight, and operational performance of the Flint Food Works Commercial Kitchen. This role directs all aspects of facility operations, including production scheduling, workflow design, quality control, and adherence to food safety and regulatory standards. By developing and maintaining an efficient production layout, the Operations Manager ensures optimal product quality, consistency, and scalability for a diverse portfolio of client products.

The position also provides hands‑on technical guidance and manufacturing support to food entrepreneurs, helping translate product concepts into viable, market‑ready goods.

Embedded within Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) and the Community, Food and Environment Institute (CFEI), you will serve as the Operations Manager and will play a critical leadership role in advancing the mission of Flint Food Works to strengthen the local food economy. In partnership with the MSU Product Center, you will oversee the strategic and operational success of the commercial kitchen as a shared‑use facility designed to reduce barriers to entry for food‑based businesses.

You will ensure that equipment, staffing, and systems are effectively aligned to support both early‑stage and scaling food entrepreneurs, while maintaining a high‑functioning, inclusive, and professionally managed production environment.

In addition to facility oversight, you will coordinate integrated, wrap‑around business support services for entrepreneurs across Genesee County. This includes collaborating with MSU Extension educators and partner organizations to provide counseling, technical assistance, and connections to resources such as product development, food safety training, regulatory guidance, and market access. Strong relationship management, operational leadership, and a commitment to community‑centered economic development, ensuring Flint Food Works continues to serve as a catalyst for small business growth, workforce development, and equitable access to food entrepreneurship opportunities will ensure your success in this role.

This position will work in the Flint Food Works Commercial Kitchen located in the Flint Farmers’ Market, Flint, Michigan, within Genesee County.

This is a full‑time…