ESL Operations Manager

About the Role

A well-established manufacturing site with significant recent investment is seeking an experienced ESL Operations Manager to lead a newly created department focused on Extended Shelf Life (ESL) and aseptic processing. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for a hands-on operations professional with a food and beverage manufacturing background, ready to help scale a high-growth product line serving major retailers and foodservice clients across the eastern U.S.

This role combines floor-level leadership with strategic planning and offers long-term growth potential within a stable, well-capitalized organization.

Key Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end operations for ESL and aseptic production: raw product intake, UHT processing, sterile tank management, packaging, palletizing, and cold storage coordination

Supervise a growing team of 12–15, including processing and packaging operators across multiple shifts

Partner with cross-functional teams including Maintenance, Blending, Batching, HTST, Quality, and Distribution to ensure seamless daily operations

Manage planning and scheduling to meet production targets and build inventory for shelf-stable distribution

Support a newly commissioned ESL production line and help establish best practices for efficiency, quality, and safety

Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Qualifications

5+ years of leadership experience in food and beverage manufacturing, preferably with ESL, UHT, or aseptic processing

Strong understanding of process operations, sterile packaging systems, and automated palletizing

Proven ability to lead shift teams and collaborate across departments

Excellent troubleshooting skills and a commitment to food safety and quality standards

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations, or equivalent experience strongly preferred