Director Operations

Director of Operations, Value AddedWhy Join Clemens Food Group?At Clemens Food Group, we're more than a food company we're a values-driven, family-owned business with a long-standing commitment to our people, our partners, and our purpose. As one of the top pork producers in the U.S., we continue to grow by investing in innovation, our communities, and most importantly our team members. Here, servant leadership is more than a philosophy it?s a daily practice. You?ll have the opportunity to make a real difference while working alongside passionate, driven leaders.The Impact You?ll MakeIn this high-visibility role, you?ll lead and evolve the strategy and operations of our Value Added area, including Bacon, Sausage, Ready-to-Eat, and Sanitation operations across multiple shifts. With over 200 team members in your scope, your leadership will shape performance, safety, team culture, and the future of ready-to-eat production at Clemens.You?ll be accountable for delivering measurable results across key operational KPIs yield, labor efficiency, throughput, and food safety while building a culture of excellence, ownership, and continuous improvement.What You?ll DoLead day-to-day and long-term operations for our Value Added production areaDevelop people and performance from frontline teams to operational leadersDrive strategic improvements in safety, cost, quality, and efficiencyBuild strong cross-functional partnerships with Sales, R&D, QA, Supply Chain, and EngineeringEnsure regulatory excellence, including USDA, HACCP, SQF, and internal SOPsRepresent operations with executive leaders, customers, and partnersYou?ll spend your time combining high-level planning with hands-on engagement walking the floor, solving problems, mentoring teams, and shaping the future of Value Added operations.What Makes This Role Exciting?Your voice will be heard. You?ll shape operations and influence company direction.Big scope, bigger impact. With 1st, 2nd, and 3rd shift teams under your leadership, your success directly drives our business results.Growth without ceiling. This role is a launchpad for future executive leadership within CFG.Culture meets execution. You?ll help build a winning team culture while delivering tangible results.What We?re Looking ForYou?re a seasoned operations leader who thrives in complex, fast-paced manufacturing environments. You bring strategic thinking, accountability, and a passion for developing people. Ideally, you?ve led operations in the protein, RTE, or food manufacturing space but we also value talent from adjacent industries with strong process leadership.Skills & MindsetMust-Have Experience:10+ years in manufacturing leadership, ideally food or proteinProven success leading large teams ( 200+), across all shifts including sanitationStrong grasp of operational KPIs, lean practices, and performance systemsBachelor?s degree or equivalent industrial experienceKey Traits:Results-driven and persuasiveStrategic thinker who rolls up sleevesCulturally aligned with servant leadership and team developmentYour Future at ClemensYour first year will be focused on learning, leading, and building:3 months: Understand our operations and their business impact6 months: Identify improvement opportunities and define strategy12 months: Fully integrated, driving business alignment and team developmentSuccess means more than hitting metrics it?s about leading with integrity, inspiring people, and leaving a lasting impact.Application Note:Clemens Food Group is not accepting unsolicited resumes from search or staffing firms. All resumes submitted by search or staffing firms to any employee at Clemens Food Group via email, the Internet, or directly without a valid written search agreement for this role and without having been asked to participate in this by Talent Acquisition will be deemed the sole property of Clemens Food Group. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired. Firms not authorized to submit candidates will not be eligible for any fee or ownership claim.