Operations Manager food manufacturing

Job Title
Operations Manager – Food Manufacturing

Location
Northbrook, IL

Company
Jaffa Salads, Inc.

Job Type
Full-time

Pay- Starting at $72,000/year up depending on experience.

About the Role
We are a fast-paced food manufacturing operation producing fresh products such as salsas, guacamole, and hummus at scale. We are looking for an Operations Manager who can run production while overseeing food safety and quality systems. This role is hands-on. You will be on the floor, not behind a desk. Your job will be to own the connection between the floor and the rest of the business. You are the point person between production, QA, supply chain, and customer service. Communication skills will be super important.

What you'll do

Own daily production
Plan and run production schedules
Manage labor and workflow
Monitor yields, waste, and throughput

Oversee quality and food safety, with QA manager
Maintain and enforce HACCP, GMP, and sanitation programs
Lead internal audits and prepare for third-party inspections
Ensure batch records and logs are accurate and complete
Handle deviations, corrective actions, and documentation

Manage inventory and cost control
Track raw material usage and variances
Work with purchasing and receiving
Keep production aligned with demand

Lead the team
Train and hold staff accountable to standards
Address issues quickly and directly
Build a culture of consistency and cleanliness

Requirements

3+ years in food manufacturing
Hands-on operations experience in a production environment
Strong quality assurance background
HACCP certification (or equivalent experience)
Experience with audits, SOPs, and documentation
Able to work on the floor and manage a team

Preferred Experience with dips, sauces, deli, or fresh prepared foods
Bilingual (English/Spanish)
Experience scaling production or improving processes

What Success Looks Like

Production runs on schedule with minimal downtime
Yields are consistent and waste is controlled
Audits are clean and documentation is tight
The team follows processes without constant oversight

Pay: $72,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person