Wooster, Ohio, 44691
Job description
Packaging Operations Director
Wooster, OH
$122-168,000 Role Objective:
The Packaging Operations Director provides enterprise-level leadership for all packaging operations, including Fill, FTO and Blend, driving safety, quality, cost, service, and people outcomes. This role is accountable for aligning packaging strategy with broader manufacturing and business objectives while ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across all packaging functions and shifts.
The Director serves as a key manufacturing leader, partnering with Plant Leadership, Blending/Production, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance to deliver sustainable performance and support future growth.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Provide end-to-end leadership for all packaging operations, including staffing, throughput, equipment performance, and material flow
- Translate business and production strategies into effective packaging execution plans aligned with safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives
- Establish short- and long-term operational strategies, including capacity planning, labor models, and capital needs
- Partner with Plant Leadership to develop budgets, forecast costs, and manage packaging-related P&L impacts
- Ensure seamless integration and coordination between Blending/Production, Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Supply Chain
- Lead, coach, and develop Packaging Managers and key functional leaders, building a strong leadership pipeline
- Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, safety, and continuous improvement across all packaging teams
- Establish clear performance expectations, conduct talent reviews, and lead succession planning efforts
- Champion training excellence, skill development, and standardized work practices
- Own safety performance for all packaging operations, ensuring proactive risk management and regulatory compliance
- Ensure packaging processes meet internal quality standards and external regulatory requirements
- Partner with Quality to investigate, resolve, and prevent deviations, non-conformances, and customer complaints
- Promote a quality-first mindset through robust metrics, audits, and continuous improvement
- Lead Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Utilize data, KPIs, and problem-solving methodologies to drive performance
- Champion standardization, best practices, and automation opportunities
- Support new product introductions, line expansions, and packaging innovations
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be accepted
- Minimum eight (8) years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in a facility with 24/7 operations
- Proven experience leading multi-shift, multi-line packaging or production teams
Hunter Recruiting provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
