Job ID: 1792859
Reference Code: MM-VP-of Operations - Food Industry
Job Summary
We are recruiting for a VP of Operations - Food Industry opportunity in Fresno, CA for an experienced executive leader with a strong background in food manufacturing, production operations, supply chain, quality, food safety, and continuous improvement.
This direct hire role is ideal for a strategic and hands-on operations executive who can drive performance across manufacturing, production support, maintenance, logistics, procurement, and operational planning. The VP of Operations will play a key role in shaping long-term operational strategy, improving efficiency, strengthening compliance, and supporting scalable growth in a fast-paced food and beverage production environment.
This is an excellent opportunity for a senior operations leader who thrives in a collaborative executive environment, values accountability and teamwork, and is motivated by building high-performing teams. The role offers the chance to influence enterprise-wide operational performance, lead meaningful process improvements, and partner with leadership on capital planning, organizational design, and long-term business growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute operational strategies that support financial performance, quality standards, safety goals, customer service expectations, and scalable growth.
- Lead manufacturing, production planning, maintenance, procurement, warehousing, logistics, and continuous improvement functions across the operation.
- Establish, monitor, and improve KPIs related to production efficiency, yield, waste reduction, quality, safety, inventory accuracy, and on-time delivery.
- Drive Lean, Six Sigma, and process optimization initiatives to improve throughput, equipment performance, cost control, and overall operational effectiveness.
- Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, FSMA, OSHA, GMP, HACCP, SQF, and customer-specific food safety and quality standards.
- Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing operations leadership team while promoting a culture of training, accountability, collaboration, and regulatory readiness.
Compensation and Benefits
- Salary range: $150,000 to $180,000 per year.
- Job type: Direct hire.
- Location: Fresno, CA.
How to Apply
- For more information on this opportunity and a confidential conversation,
please contact Mike Marmolejo at 5 5 9 – 5 4 7 – 6 0 6 4 or email your resume
to m m a r m o l e j o @ a p p l e o n e . com
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans
The Know Your Rights poster is available here:
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf
The pay transparency policy is available here:
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf
For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.
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https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf
We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.
Required Qualifications and Skills
- Lead operational strategy, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and KPI management across food manufacturing operations.
- Oversee production, supply chain, logistics, maintenance, quality alignment, ERP reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Manage CapEx projects, equipment optimization, production planning, inventory accuracy, and procurement coordination.
- Partner with executive leadership on long-term planning, organizational design, vendor management, and system-wide operational projects.
- Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Food Science, Business Administration, or a related field required.
- 15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience required.
- 10+ years of executive-level leadership experience within food processing or co-packing required.
- Proven success managing P&L responsibility and leading multi-facility operations.
- Strong knowledge of food safety systems, regulatory compliance, quality management programs, and manufacturing best practices.
- Up-to-date knowledge of FDA, USDA, FSMA, OSHA, SQF, CFIA, CODEX, GMP, HACCP, and local regulatory guidelines.
- Expertise in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, process optimization, performance metrics, and continuous improvement.
- Experience with ERP and operational systems such as NetSuite, RedZone, or similar platforms.
- Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, decision-making, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to lead large-scale, system-wide initiatives through influence, facilitation, and operational discipline.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with exposure to plant conditions, including elevated noise levels and seasonal temperature changes.
- Ability to walk, climb stairs, occasionally lift up to 15 lbs., and follow all safety protocols.
Preferred Qualifications
- MBA preferred.
- Bilingual Spanish skills are a plus.
- Experience in food co-packing, multi-site production environments, and high-growth manufacturing operations preferred.
- Experience leading sustainability, vendor optimization, demand planning, and supply chain cost reduction initiatives preferred.