Job Details

Joining King's Hawaiian makes you part of our `ohana (family). We are a family-owned business for over seventy years, respecting our roots while thinking about our future as we continue to grow and care for our customers and the communities we serve. Our `ohana members build an environment of inclusivity as they freely collaborate, pursue learning through curiosity, and explore innovation as critical thinkers. Beyond that, we are also passionate about supporting the long-term health and well-being of our employees and their families. If you're excited to rise with our team, come and join our `ohana!

Working under limited supervision, the Operations Manager will be responsible for leading and elevating King's Hawaiian's California bread and rolls manufacturing operations by driving strategic growth and operational excellence. This role encompasses inspiring change and managing daily operations with a focus on efficiency, transformation and continuous improvement. We're seeking a high-potential results-driven leader who is ready to drive success across the operation while developing future leaders. This is a critical leadership role with high-growth opportunity. The ideal candidate will embody our core values of Dignity, Excellence, and Telling It Like It Is, while fostering the Aloha Spirit, demonstrating a dynamic, results-driven approach to leadership, and an entrepreneurial spirit to help bring the joy of King's Hawaiian to tables around the world while also being a builder of people systems and culture.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Operational Leadership:

• Oversee day-to-day production operations, ensuring output meets safety, quality, and cost targets.
• Drive cross-functional alignment, change leadership and talent development initiatives and outcomes
• Champion safety and quality, adhering to King's Hawaiian standards and regulatory requirements, including OHSA, GMP and SQF. Embrace continuous improvement by applying Lean, Six Sigma, and fostering an environment of innovation and proactive problem-solving.
• Manage production budgets and financial metrics, employing a strategic approach to cost management.
• Develop contingency plans for potential disruptions, leading crisis management efforts to minimize production impact.
• Act as a key member of the operations leadership team, engaging in strategic planning and cross-departmental collaboration to achieve company-wide objectives and initiatives.

Talent Management & Development:

• Establish clear expectations, coach to outcomes and build systems for communication, accountability and follow-through across the operations team
• Cultivate leadership and foster professional growth among team members by setting clear performance goals, facilitating individual development plans, and enhancing team capabilities to strengthen organizational depth at King's Hawaiian.

• Building a high-performing frontline leadership team through structured assessments, coaching and decisive action
• Define manufacturing/operational best practices and raise the bar accordingly, increasing accountability, drive and performance across team members

Training System Optimization & Continuous Improvement:

• Formalize and sustain training programs for hourly roles to ensure skill clarity, consistency and long-term capability building

• Apply Lean, Six Sigma and TPM/Autonomous Maintenance tools to improve OEE, reduce waste and eliminate recurring issues
• Monitor and develop key performance indicators (KPIs) for continuous operational improvement.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work and partner cross-functionally with QA, Maintenance, R&D, Supply Chain and Planning to ensure efficient, scalable operations that support customer demand and innovation
• Collaborate with R&D to align production capabilities with new product innovations, ensuring seamless integration into operations.
• Work in partnership with the Quality Assurance team to uphold and exceed product standards, focusing on delivering brand promise.
• Optimize supply chain processes, from working with the warehouse and supply chain departments from inventory management to raw material procurement, enhancing cost-effectiveness and minimizing disruptions.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant local, state, and federal regulations.

Technology & Data Utilization:

• Leverage systems like SAP, S/4HANA, RedZone and Tableau to drive real-time data & insights, improve performance and build operational credibility.
• Lead the adoption of new technologies and digital tools to boost production efficiency and analytics capabilities, recommending strategic technology investments.

Strategic Planning & Execution:

• Participate in site-level and enterprise-wide planning initiatives, ensuring operations are aligned with long-term business goals

Driving Culture & Change Management:

• Model change agility, coach and lead through resistance and transitions, and foster a collaborative, values-driven, people and results-oriented environment

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE):

• Required - Bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year college with a focus in Operations, Engineering, Food Science or related field (or equivalent relevant experience)
• Preferred - Engineering or Operations Management focus
• Required - At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in manufacturing, preferably in food or bev manufacturing, consumer products good or baking manufacturing (baking experience strongly preferred)
• Required - Minimum 5 years of experience directly leading salaried and/or hourly team members in a fast-paced production environment
• Proven track-record of building or transforming salaried leaders
• FLuent in Lean, CI, TPM/AM principles and real-world applications
• Proficient in SAP, RedZone, Tableau, MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and operational dashboards
• Strong communicator with a high-level of emotional intelligence and executive stakeholder partnership
• Bilingual (Spanish speaking) is a plus but not required

PREFERRED/ADDITIONAL SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in large-scale, high-speed food or baking operations with short shelf-life products
• Cross-functional leadership background (e.g., Maintenance + Production exposure)
• Demonstrated success leading culture change and performance transformation
• Background in family-owned, entrepreneurial, or high-growth manufacturing settings
• Developing knowledge of SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud
• Strong verbal and written communication skills - ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organization

Physical Demands

The employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, taste, or smell. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 - 25 pounds, and occasionally more than 50 pounds with assistance from co-worker and/or mechanic devices. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. Occasional exposure to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee will be handling items that may be very hot. Noise level is usually moderate. Must be available to work overtime, nights, weekends, and Holidays as needed.

Annual Compensation Range: $137,500 - $187,500

King's Hawaiian is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our ohana.