Operations Manager
Welch'sGrow with Welch's! Welch's is on a journey towards our bold ambition of being the global-leader of convenient, good for you fruit-based food and beverages. To turn this goal into a reality we need you and other exceptionally talented, agile, and innovative individuals who are eager to contribute to something extraordinary! At Welch's, we're not just offering a job; we're inviting you to be a part of a vibrant, authentic, and inclusive culture where you not only belong, but also have the opportunity to unleash the best, most authentic version of you. Position Overview This isn't your typical Operations Manager opportunity. We're looking for a proven manufacturing leader to serve as the second-in-command to our Plant Director at our North East, Pennsylvania facility. This is a highly visible leadership role at an important point in Welch's transformation. You'll have broad responsibility for production, processing, packaging, distribution, and production planning, with a direct hand in shaping how the facility operates today and how it evolves for the future. Working closely with the Plant Director, you'll help translate our broader manufacturing strategy into day-to-day execution, strengthen operational performance, develop the next generation of plant leaders, and build a culture rooted in accountability, safety, and continuous improvement. We're looking for someone who can balance the demands of running a complex manufacturing operation with the longer-term work of making it better. You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the people, processes, and performance of one of Welch's key manufacturing facilities. Where You'll Work You'll be based at our manufacturing facility in North East, Pennsylvania, just outside of Erie. This is a hands-on, on-site leadership role where you'll work closely with plant leadership, frontline teams, and cross-functional partners to drive results. What You'll Do Shape What Great Looks Like Lead the operation within your scope and serve as a key member of the plant leadership team and trusted partner to the Plant Director, helping set priorities and drive overall facility performance. Lead the managers and teams responsible for production, processing, packaging, distribution, and production planning. Take ownership of daily operational execution, ensuring we consistently deliver against safety, quality, service, productivity, and cost expectations. Anticipate operational challenges, allocate resources effectively, and make decisions that keep the business moving. Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Supply Chain to improve equipment reliability, production efficiency, and overall plant performance. Help Transform How We Operate Play a central role in advancing the plant's operational transformation, strengthening processes, systems, and ways of working. Champion Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement, moving beyond short-term fixes to build sustainable operational capabilities. Implement and strengthen foundational operational excellence tools, including Centerline, Clean, Inspect & Lubricate (CIL), defect handling, standard work, and root cause problem-solving. Identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve throughput, increase equipment uptime, and optimize labor and material utilization. Use operational data and KPIs, including OEE, schedule attainment, and Right First Time (RFT), to identify trends, address performance gaps, and drive measurable improvements. Support capital projects, process improvements, and manufacturing investments that strengthen the facility's long-term capabilities. Build Great Teams and a Stronger Culture Lead, coach, and develop manufacturing leaders, building the capability and accountability needed to sustain high performance. Create an environment where employees understand expectations, take ownership of results, and feel empowered to improve the way work gets done. Develop future leaders through meaningful feedback, coachin…