Director of Operations - Fresh & Ready

Operations Director | Fresh & Ready - Charlotte, NC

Lead the Site. Build the Culture. Drive What’s Next.

Fresh & Ready Foods in Charlotte, NC is seeking an experienced Operations Director to serve as the Site Leader of a high-volume food production facility.

This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for building operational capability, strengthening talent, and embedding continuous improvement into the DNA of the plant. The right leader will balance strategy and floor presence, performance and people, urgency and discipline.

Reporting to a Regional Leader, this role is accountable for sustained improvements in safety, productivity, quality, service levels, and cost performance while cultivating a high-performance, accountable culture.

What You’ll Lead

Operational Excellence

• Drive plant-wide performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost
• Implement and sustain Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement systems
• Optimize material flow, inventory management, and replenishment processes
• Deliver year-over-year financial and operational targets

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with regulatory and internal food safety standards
• Oversee SQF, sanitation, preventive maintenance, and chemical control programs
• Maintain audit readiness and strong documentation practices

People & Culture

• Build and mentor a high-performing leadership team
• Strengthen succession planning and leadership bench depth
• Maintain strong visibility on the floor with a collaborative, problem-solving approach
• Foster cross-functional alignment across production, quality, maintenance, and supply chain

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field
• 5 to 10 years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing or a similar regulated production environment
• Strong working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and operational systems
• Proven track record of scaling performance and developing leaders

Who You Are

• A relationship-driven leader who earns credibility quickly
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity with ownership and accountability
• Data-driven and analytically strong
• Clear, confident communicator
• Equally effective on the production floor and in executive settings

Environment

This role requires regular presence on the production floor, including exposure to cold environments, machinery, and varying noise levels.

Relocation Assistance Available.

Confidential search. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
Equal opportunity employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $130,000.00 - $175,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have a Bachelors degree in Business, Operations, Engineering or a similar field?

Ability to Relocate:

• Charlotte, NC 28227: Relocate with an employer provided relocation package (Required)

Work Location: In person