Textured Proteins Operations Manager

MGP Ingredients • Atchison, KS

7d

About The Position

This role provides operational, quality, and technical oversight of operations to ensure reliable production, food safety compliance, and consistent textured protein performance. The position ensures equipment uptime and capacity align with established production schedules, evaluates facilities and processes to minimize downtime, and drives corrective actions to address off-spec product. The role partners closely with R&D and other MGP stakeholders to prioritize operational activities, improve production performance, and support training and development needs. It also manages quality management processes, monitors key quality control data, and executes capital and operational projects in accordance with company standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering; or an undergraduate degree with food manufacturing management experience.
• Knowledge and hands-on experience in the operation, optimization, and troubleshooting of manufacturing equipment and processes, including bulk powder handling, dry and wet milling, dry mixing, pneumatic conveying systems, extrusion processing, belt conveying, rotary, belt, and fluid-bed dryers, steam boilers, air compressors, metal detection, and packaging equipment and systems.
• Experience with British Retail Consortium (BRC) auditing principles or other food safety–based Quality Management Systems (e.g., GFSI, SQF, HACCP).
• Up to 5 years of process experience in the food manufacturing & food-packaged goods, food extrusion processing is preferred.
• 3-5 of those years in progressive advancement in management leadership positions.
• Proven leadership skills, including giving and receiving feedback, conflict management, situational leadership, rootcause problem solving, team building, coaching for improved performance, effective decision-making, and constructive compromise.
• Demonstrated ability to train and coach others—particularly in technical applications—is required.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and Excel; preferred experience with SAP, AutoCAD, Process Safety Management (PSM), contractor management, project cost estimation, and project management.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred background in business management.
• Experience with automation, instrumentation, and control systems is a plus.
• Hands-on experience troubleshooting industrial equipment and systems, including electrical systems, piping, valves, pumps, control instrumentation, and computer-based control systems.

Responsibilities

• Ensure plant processes, machinery, and equipment uptime and capacity align with established production schedules.
• Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure effective management and that performance meets or exceeds planned targets.
• Manage inventory levels and supply flow to support uninterrupted production and cost efficiency.
• Utilize and maintain ERP systems to support planning, tracking, reporting, and operational decision-making.
• Identify training, coaching, and development needs to sustain and improve production performance.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels and manage union contract execution in compliance with labor agreements.
• Source, develop, and deploy training materials to improve operational efficiency, reduce unit costs, and enhance finished product quality.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and performance feedback to drive operational effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate communication and operational support across MGP management teams supporting the textured protein business.
• Support R&D activities, including process trials, scale-up, and continuous product and process improvement.
• Ensure operations comply with all food safety, quality, regulatory, and company standards.
• Develop, update, and maintain quality management processes and procedures to ensure consistent textured protein performance.
• Collect, monitor, analyze, and report quality control data (e.g., bulk density, hydration rates, chop quality, sieve analysis, moisture) to verify processing conditions and adherence to product specifications.
• Analyze production and quality trends, including off-spec product, to identify root causes and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
• Communicate performance results, deviations, and corrective actions to MGP stakeholders in a clear, accurate, and timely manner.
• Execute capital and operational projects in accordance with company standards and asset management policies, including project design, cost estimation, capital request preparation, contractor coordination, change management, startup, and commissioning.

Benefits

• Compensation is competitive and is commensurate with experience.
• MGP offers exceptional medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k) Match and PTO.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager