Senior Manufacturing Packaging Manager

The Senior Manufacturing Packaging Manager is responsible for leading all packaging operations within a fast-paced food production environment, ensuring safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement across packaging lines and processes. This role will provide strategic and hands-on leadership during a critical period of organizational growth and transformation, driving operational excellence while building strong, high-performing teams.

The ideal candidate brings a strong food packaging background combined with engineering-based problem-solving capabilities, operational leadership, and the ability to lead through change. This individual must be both strategic and execution-focused, capable of identifying opportunities, solving complex operational challenges, and implementing sustainable improvements that support business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

* Lead daily packaging operations across multiple production lines to ensure safety, quality, attainment, and efficiency goals are achieved.

* Drive operational performance through effective leadership, accountability, and floor presence.

* Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Continuous Improvement teams.

* Develop and execute packaging strategies aligned with company growth initiatives and operational objectives.

* Ensure compliance with all food safety, GMP, HACCP, OSHA, and regulatory standards.

Team Leadership & Development

* Build, coach, and develop high-performing packaging leadership teams and frontline associates.

* Create a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

* Lead through organizational change and transformation initiatives with a positive and solutions-oriented mindset.

* Mentor supervisors and emerging leaders to strengthen leadership capability across the department.

* Support workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development initiatives.

Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

* Identify operational inefficiencies and implement sustainable process improvements.

* Utilize data, metrics, and root cause analysis to drive decision-making and resolve complex operational challenges.

* Lead Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, line optimization, labor efficiency, and throughput improvement.

* Collaborate with Engineering and Maintenance teams to improve equipment reliability and packaging performance.

* Support capital projects, equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, and packaging innovation efforts.

Performance & Financial Management

* Monitor and manage departmental KPIs including safety, quality, downtime, labor utilization, waste, and OEE performance.

* Develop and manage departmental budgets and cost improvement initiatives.

* Drive productivity improvements while maintaining product quality and employee safety.

* Support inventory accuracy and packaging material management initiatives.