Operations Startup Manager

Russell Stover•Abilene, KS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Operations Startup Manager At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy! A day in the life… As the Operations Startup Manager , you will lead the successful startup of new production lines, products, equipment, and facility projects within our food manufacturing plant. You’ll work closely with Engineering, Contractors, Vendors, Safety, FSQA, and Plant Operations to ensure all new equipment and products are safely commissioned, properly qualified, and seamlessly transitioned into ongoing operations. Your leadership will ensure each startup meets defined success criteria and delivers sustainable, long‑term results. If you’re the right person for this role, you will excel at coordinating and executing complex projects, providing strong startup and commissioning leadership, collaborating effectively across functions, preparing the workforce through thoughtful training and readiness planning, and demonstrating strong problem‑solving skills with consistent follow‑through to maintain stability long after launch. What you will be doing… Working closely with Engineering, Contractors, Vendors, Safety, FSQA, and Plant Operations to deliver project vertical startup success criteria. Partnering with Engineering to support design and installation activities for new equipment. Developing and executing commissioning, qualification, and verification plans (“startup ladder”) to ensure equipment and systems are production ‑ ready. Identifying plant training needs related to new products, equipment, and production lines. Partnering with the Training Coordinator to support the development and delivery of training plans that prepare employees for new processes, equipment, and technologies. Coordinating startup activities across safety, engineering, quality, maintenance, and operations teams. Ensuring startups meet human safety, food safety/quality, and production requirements. Supporting smooth handoff of projects from project execution to plant ownership. Leading and managing the development, tracking, and closure of project punch lists prior to project closeout. Documenting machine parameters and drafting operating procedures for new equipment, ensuring these are incorporated into training plans. Acting as the primary point of contact in the plant for Industrialization, coordinating new product and renovated product trials and first production. Ensuring all projects are delivered on time and on budget. Adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards. Completing and following FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives. Promptly reporting and taking appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities. Actively contributing to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role. This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or capital project startup environments.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Knowledge of safety, food safety, and hygienic design.
Working knowledge of commissioning, qualification, and verification processes.
Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.

Nice To Haves

3+ years in a food manufacturing facility
Experience with industrialization of new products at plant scale
Experience working with training, operations, and maintenance teams during equipment startups.

Responsibilities

Working closely with Engineering, Contractors, Vendors, Safety, FSQA, and Plant Operations to deliver project vertical startup success criteria.
Partnering with Engineering to support design and installation activities for new equipment.
Developing and executing commissioning, qualification, and verification plans (“startup ladder”) to ensure equipment and systems are production ‑ ready.
Identifying plant training needs related to new products, equipment, and production lines.
Partnering with the Training Coordinator to support the development and delivery of training plans that prepare employees for new processes, equipment, and technologies.
Coordinating startup activities across safety, engineering, quality, maintenance, and operations teams.
Ensuring startups meet human safety, food safety/quality, and production requirements.
Supporting smooth handoff of projects from project execution to plant ownership.
Leading and managing the development, tracking, and closure of project punch lists prior to project closeout.
Documenting machine parameters and drafting operating procedures for new equipment, ensuring these are incorporated into training plans.
Acting as the primary point of contact in the plant for Industrialization, coordinating new product and renovated product trials and first production.
Ensuring all projects are delivered on time and on budget.
Adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
Completing and following FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives.
Promptly reporting and taking appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities.
Actively contributing to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.