Operations Manager

Company: Wholly Hearty Food Products

Location: Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Reporting To: Board of Directors

Employment Type: Full-time, on-site

About Wholly Hearty

Wholly Hearty is a startup FMCG food manufacturing company in the final stage before commercial launch. Our production lines and machinery are fully installed, the core team is in place, and we are completing final operational permitting.

We focus on producing health-forward snack products that compete with imported goods on both quality and price. Our current brand, Vega Boom , includes Potato Chips and Kale Chips , with additional products and brands planned under the Wholly Hearty umbrella.

Board of Directors

• Executive Director (Founder)
• Marketing Director (Co-Founder)
• Technical Director (Founding Director)

Role Overview:

The Operations Manager will take full ownership of factory operations , leading day-to-day production, optimizing processes, and scaling manufacturing capacity as the business moves from pre-launch into commercial production and future expansion.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong on-site presence, technical understanding of food manufacturing operations, and the ability to work closely with the Board of Directors to translate strategy into operational execution.

The role is best suited to someone who thrives in start-up manufacturing environments , balances execution with continuous improvement, and is comfortable operating with high ownership and accountability.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Production Planning & Forecasting

• Develop monthly and quarterly production plans aligned with sales forecasts and factory capacity.
• Plan and optimize labour, raw materials, utilities, and machine utilization.
• Analyse production output, yield, downtime, and waste to improve forecasting accuracy.
• Ensure production readiness while minimizing bottlenecks and unplanned downtime.

2. Operational Efficiency & Process Optimization

• Review and optimize workflows across production, maintenance, quality, and warehouse functions.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Lead process improvements to reduce waste, improve yields, and stabilize production.
• Introduce tools, systems, or selective automation initiatives to support scalable operations.
• Monitor production KPIs and adjust schedules and processes to maximize efficiency and product quality.

3. Scaling Operations

• Develop and execute operational strategies to support increased output and capacity expansion.
• Lead scaling initiatives such as additional shifts, process upgrades, or automation solutions.
• Coordinate with engineering and technical teams to improve equipment performance and reliability.
• Assess and recommend scaling options, balancing cost, risk, and return on investment.
• Engage with machinery suppliers, vendors, and third-party consultants as required.

4. Daily Production Oversight

• Oversee all day-to-day operations on the production floor.
• Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining quality, food safety, and hygiene standards.
• Troubleshoot operational issues and ensure effective coordination across departments.
• Maintain strong on-site presence and operational discipline.

5. Team Leadership & Management

The Operations Manager will directly manage the following teams:

Production

• Production Floor Supervisor (3 operators + 10 helpers)
• Electrical Engineer (leading the Maintenance Unit: engineer, technician, operator)

Support Functions

• Lab / Quality Officer
• Warehouse Officer
• Safety Officer
• Document Controller

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management across all teams.
• Establish, monitor, and improve operational KPIs and performance standards.
• Ensure strong coordination between production and support functions.
• Build a culture of accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

6. New Product & Process Development

• Collaborate with the Board of Directors to support the development, introduction, and scale-up of new products.
• Assess manufacturing feasibility and operational requirements for new SKUs.
• Support pilot runs and transition new products into stable full-scale production.
• Ensure production processes are repeatable, scalable, and quality-compliant.

7. Board Reporting & Governance

• Provide regular operational performance updates, insights, and recommendations to the Board of Directors.
• Highlight production risks, capacity constraints, and improvement opportunities.
• Support data-driven decision-making at board level.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 10–12 years of experience in FMCG or food manufacturing environments.
• Prior experience in snack food manufacturing (potato chips preferred) is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in:
• Factory operations and production planning
• Process optimization and lean manufacturing
• Scaling manufacturing operations
• Strong people leadership and team management skills.
• Solid understanding of food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and operational data interpretation.
• Experience working directly with boards or senior leadership in manufacturing environments.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional coordination skills.

Key Competencies

• Production and operational planning
• Process improvement and continuous improvement mindset
• Hands-on factory leadership
• Strong technical understanding of production machinery and utilities
• Cross-functional coordination and stakeholder management
• High ownership, accountability, and decision-making capability
• Adaptability and resilience in a start-up environment
• Commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence

Why Join Wholly Hearty?

• Opportunity to build and scale a factory from launch stage
• Direct exposure to board-level decision-making
• High-impact leadership role with real operational ownership
• Long-term growth potential as the business expands