Director of Manufacturing

From our home on Avery Island, Louisiana, McIlhenny Company produces TABASCO® Brand products, including the legendary TABASCO® Original Red Sauce. A household and restaurant staple around the world, TABASCO® Sauce is sold in more than 195 countries and territories and labeled in more than 36 languages and dialects.

Avery Island, LA

Prepare to spice up your day AND career! We’re looking for an individual who is a critical thinker, detail-oriented and collaborative. If you’ve got the appetite for a new job as Director of Manufacturing for the McIlhenny Company, makers of TABASCO® brand products, then we want to hear from you.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Engineering, or Manufacturing related fields
• 10+ years’ relevant experience in a fast-moving manufacturing environment with a proven track record of operational success
• 5+ years of experience in a management and/or site leadership position
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead large teams, develop talent, and foster an inclusive value-driven workplace

The Director of Manufacturing leads all production activities across sauce blending, bottling, and packaging operations and oversees a team of 100+ associates across multiple shifts and departments through a network of managers and supervisors. This role ensures operational excellence in safety, quality, and efficiency while driving strategic initiatives and continuous improvement in alignment with company goals.

• Provide hands‑on leadership by coaching direct reports, offering regular feedback, conducting regular 1:1s, and creating clear development plans to foster individual growth.
• Build and sustain a high‑performance culture by ensuring accountability and cultivating talent to meet current and future business needs.
• Model and reinforce the company’s core behaviors—communication, collaboration, continuous improvement, trust, and leadership—ensuring they are consistently demonstrated and promoted across all levels of the organization.
• Partner with the VP of Operations on strategic initiatives, factory operations, employee engagement, and project execution.
• Develop and execute manufacturing strategies aligned with the company’s mission and operational goals.
• Lead regular business reviews with manufacturing departments and executive leadership to assess progress and align priorities.
• Partner with teams in Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Quality, and R&D to achieve integrated operational objectives.
• Lead the manufacturing team in both strategic initiatives and daily operations to meet safety, quality, and productivity targets while anticipating risks and implementing mitigation plans to ensure business continuity.
• Oversee manufacturing budgets and cost centers, driving cost control, resource optimization, and continuous improvement in line with business objectives.
• Represent manufacturing in cross‑functional innovation and commercialization projects for new products.
• Champion Lean manufacturing principles (e.g., 5S, Kaizen, SMED) and serve as a change agent by challenging existing processes, fostering innovation, and building a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Manage a portfolio of improvement projects targeting efficiency, safety, and quality across production departments.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of performance measurement systems to track and improve KPIs in productivity, quality, and cost.

• You’ll be more than just a number! Take pride working in a privately held, family‑owned business with a strong team and culture where you are valued.
• Uniquely generous benefits: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k savings plan with company match and potential profit‑sharing.

• MBA or related graduate degree
• Experience in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods (CPG), especially in regulated environments (FDA, SQF, HACCP)
• Deep understanding of Lean Six Sigma methodologies with certification (e.g., Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt)
• Expertise with technology including ERP, MES and common programs such as MS Office, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

To be considered for the position, candidates must meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in the job ad.

Equal Opportunity Employer