Senior Director of Food Manufacturing

📍 New York Area

💰 $185,000–$205,000 + Comprehensive Benefits

Nter Talent is proud to be supporting a leading food manufacturing organisation in the search for a Senior Director of Food Manufacturing. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced manufacturing leader to oversee large-scale production operations across multiple fresh food categories, driving operational excellence, food safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

This position is ideal for a strategic yet hands-on leader who has a proven background within high-volume food manufacturing and enjoys developing high-performing teams while delivering operational results.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all day-to-day manufacturing and processing operations across multiple fresh food production departments.

• Drive operational performance by ensuring production targets, quality standards, cost objectives, and customer expectations are consistently achieved.

• Review production schedules, staffing plans, capacity, and inventory requirements to maximise efficiency and throughput.

• Partner with engineering, maintenance, quality, supply chain, and other cross-functional teams to resolve operational challenges and improve plant performance.

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives across equipment, production processes, labour utilisation, and workflow optimisation.

• Develop, monitor, and analyse KPIs relating to productivity, labour, maintenance, quality, safety, and operational performance.

• Ensure full compliance with HACCP, SSOP, GMP, FDA, USDA, and all relevant food safety and regulatory standards.

• Oversee sanitation programmes and promote a strong health and safety culture throughout the manufacturing operation.

• Lead, mentor, and develop an experienced operations leadership team, creating a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous development.

• Conduct performance reviews, establish objectives, and support succession planning and leadership development.

• Support recruitment, workforce planning, and organisational growth initiatives.

• Foster strong communication across all manufacturing departments through regular leadership meetings and operational updates.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related discipline.

• Minimum of five years’ progressive leadership experience within food manufacturing or food processing.

• At least five years of experience leading multiple direct reports within a manufacturing environment.

• Experience reporting directly to senior executive leadership.

• Strong working knowledge of HACCP, SSOP, GMP, FDA, USDA, and food safety regulations.

• Proven experience managing high-volume production operations involving both raw and ready-to-eat food products.

• Hands-on understanding of food processing and packaging equipment, including grinders, saws, conveyors, packaging machinery, and automated production systems.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use operational data and KPIs to drive business decisions.

• Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and organisational skills.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Experience within a union manufacturing environment is advantageous.

What’s on Offer

• Base salary of $185,000–$205,000.

• Comprehensive healthcare package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability coverage.

• 401(k) with employer matching.

• Generous paid time off, including holidays and sick leave.

• The opportunity to lead large-scale manufacturing operations within a growing organisation where your impact will be highly visible.

• Excellent long-term career progression and leadership development opportunities.

If you’re an experienced food manufacturing leader looking for your next executive challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today or contact Nter Talent for a confidential discussion.