Director of Operations (Baked Goods) - St. Paul, MN

Location: On Site in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States Employment type: Full-time Salary: $200,000 - $220,000 per year Why This Role Matters MissionHires is seeking a Director of Operations (Baked Goods) to lead end-to-end production operations across all shifts, overseeing production, maintenance, scheduling, sanitation, warehouse, safety, quality, HR collaboration, regulatory compliance, budgeting, and continuous improvement for a high-volume baking facility. This role drives operational excellence, cost control, people leadership, and on-time delivery while supporting Lean/Six Sigma and new product introductions. How You'll Contribute • Lead development and implementation of strategies to maximize operational effectiveness and meet growth objectives • Achieve business objectives while creating an accident-free workplace and delivering safe, quality products • Drive continuous improvement in safety, productivity, product quality, customer service, work life quality, and manufacturing costs • Own financial results of plant operations including annual manufacturing budget, cost analyses, and cost containment initiatives • Adhere to and manage updates to the approved annual operations budget with the VP of Operations • Provide managerial direction to manufacturing with a focus on continuous improvement and cost reduction • Allocate resources (people, time, budget) to meet departmental goals and objectives • Provide indirect leadership of HR activities to ensure strong employee relations and legal compliance • Foster effective communication, coaching, development, and performance feedback across teams • Maintain positive Employee Relations and support a union-free environment • Direct maintenance to ensure facility and equipment readiness for operational goals • Lead product planning and materials management to maintain efficient inventory levels • Support warehouse and distribution to ensure on-time customer deliveries • Provide indirect leadership to Quality Assurance, maintaining product integrity and GMPs • Assist in establishing quality specifications and ensure adherence by plant teams • Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory agencies • Verify GMP and safety standards are maintained and address deficiencies promptly • Monitor and validate daily operational schedules for accuracy and attainment of goals • Track and report KPIs (quality, service, safety, cost) and align facility leadership on goals • Conduct daily walkthroughs across all operational areas and maintain visibility on all shifts • Provide strategic guidance through active participation in leadership meetings • Participate in new product development, assessing cost and manufacturability • Communicate and help implement new product production plans with supervisors • Champion and support Lean and Six Sigma initiatives in the facility What Makes You a Great Fit • Bachelor’s degree required; preference for Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Food Science • Minimum 10 years of experience in a baking production facility • At least 5 years of experience leading a facility • Working knowledge and hands-on implementation/maintenance of SQF Level III Certification in manufacturing • Strong technical knowledge of baking equipment, products, and processes • Excellent communication, coaching, and people leadership skills • Self-motivated, results-oriented, and highly organized • Receptive to performance feedback and able to respond positively • Proficiency with Microsoft Office • Demonstrated success in safety, quality, budgeting, cost control, inventory, maintenance, warehouse/distribution, GMP, and regulatory compliance • Experience with Lean and/or Six Sigma methodologies and tools