Director of Operations

Job Description

Director of Operations – Meat Processing Chicago, IL

We’re hiring a Vice President of Operations to lead a network of multi-site meat processing and distribution facilities based in the Chicago area. This role will oversee plant operations, supply chain, sales, safety, maintenance, transportation / fleet and strategic growth initiatives across multiple high-volume, perishable food production sites. We’re looking for a proven operational leader with deep experience in protein processing, team leadership, and driving performance across complex, fast-moving environments. With a long-standing reputation for delivering top-quality protein products to customers, this operation is positioned for continued growth—and we need a strong operational leader to drive it forward.

This is a critical leadership role for someone with deep experience in managing large-scale meat processing environments. We need a transformational leader who can change, upgrade and improve operations

Compensation: 180K - $225K + bonus

MUST have MEAT manufacturing experience

The Challenge Ahead

Lead and oversee all multiple facilities for meat processing production, and distribution activities

Ensure high standards for food safety, quality assurance, and on-time delivery

Shape a results-oriented culture grounded in safety, respect, accountability, and communication

Serve as the bridge between local operations and senior corporate leadershipKey Responsibilities

Manage all production activities, ensuring consistent output and operational excellence

Track and drive operational KPIs—throughput, downtime, labor efficiency, customer order fulfillment

Lead initiatives to improve inventory turnover and move stagnant inventory

Oversee order accuracy, warehouse productivity, and outbound logistics performance

Own and manage the plant’s P&L performance

Monitor revenue, expenses, and profitability against budget goals

Maintain full compliance with USDA, SQF, HACCP, OSHA, DOT, and other regulatory standards

Foster a culture of food safety, sanitation, and continuous improvement across all departments

Lead root cause investigations for any quality or safety issues and implement preventive solutions

Oversee a workforce of 6 direct and 150 employees; lead weekly management meetings to set departmental priorities and resolve challenges

Manage hiring, training, performance evaluations, and employee development

Work closely with HR to implement safety, retention, and engagement programs

Oversee maintenance and improvements for the production facility and vehicle fleet

Manage capital expenditures for facility upgrades and equipment investments

Champion ERP optimization efforts, ensuring smooth adoption and effective daily use

Collaborate with IT providers to address system needs and technical challengesRequirements

BS/BA is required or an equivalent of 15 years of meat processing leadership experience

7-10+ years of plant leadership experience in meat processing or protein manufacturing environment is required

Multi-site experience required

Transformational leader – been involved with a start-up, moving a facility or upgrading an operation

Proven success managing large-scale protein / USDA operations

Deep knowledge of USDA regulations, HACCP protocols, and food safety standards

Hands-on operational management style with the ability to drive both strategy and execution

Strong business acumen with full P&L management experience

Effective communicator who can inspire teams, drive accountability, and deliver results

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment

A hands-on manager who leads from the floor, not just the office

A problem-solver who uses data to drive continuous improvement

Someone energized by creating structure, building teams, and making an impact day one

Experience with MS Office, WMS and ERP; prefer ERP implementation experience

Ready to take the next step?

If you have the background and drive to lead multi-site meat processing operations, we want to hear from you.

#ZRCompany Description

The team at JSK Recruiting, Inc. prides itself on providing boutique-level services combined with the resources of a larger recruiting firm. We forgo the traditional nine-to-five workday model in favor of complete accessibility. We are here for our clients and candidates when they need us most.

With 12 years of experience in the field of supply chain and manufacturing recruiting, we maintain the relationships that employers are looking for in a recruiting firm as well as those that talented professionals need when they are ready to make a career change.

At JSK Recruiting, we provide complete recruiting services, from sourcing candidates to organizing the interview process. Finding both long-term employees and rewarding careers across manufacturing and supply chain positions has never been easier.

Full-time