Director of Operations – Feed Additives (Midwest, USA)
About the Role:
Our client is a leading manufacturer of specialty feed additives supplying into livestock and pet food markets across North America. They are seeking a Director of Operations to oversee and optimize performance across four manufacturing sites in the Midwest.
This is a senior leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, efficiency, and scalability across a multi-site production network.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead full operational performance across four manufacturing facilities, ensuring alignment with company strategy and growth objectives
- Drive improvements in production efficiency, cost control, and capacity utilization
- Implement and standardize best-in-class operational processes across all sites
- Oversee supply chain, production planning, and inventory management to ensure consistent product availability
- Ensure full compliance with feed safety, quality, and regulatory standards (e.g. FDA, FSMA, GMP+)
- Lead, develop, and mentor site leaders and operations teams
- Partner with commercial and technical teams to support new product launches and scale-up activities
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma, CI initiatives)
- Manage capital projects including plant upgrades, expansions, and automation initiatives
- Track and report on key KPIs including OEE, yield, cost per ton, and on-time delivery
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Animal Science, Operations, or related field (Master’s preferred)
- 10+ years’ experience in manufacturing operations, ideally within feed additives or animal nutrition
- Proven experience managing multiple manufacturing sites
- Strong knowledge of feed safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance
- Demonstrated success in driving operational improvements and cost optimization
- Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma)
- Strong leadership and team development capability
- Willingness to travel regularly across Midwest sites
Why Join:
- Opportunity to lead a critical operational footprint within a growing business
- High visibility role with direct impact on performance and expansion strategy
- Collaborative environment with strong technical and commercial teams
- Competitive salary, bonus, and benefits package
Location:
Midwest, USA (remote with regular travel across the 4 sites in the US)
