Posted on 15 Apr 2026

Project Operations Manager

Vineland, NJ
Permanent
$175,000 - $230,000

An established and growing food & beverage manufacturer is seeking a Project Operations Manager to lead the startup, commissioning, and operational ramp-up of a new production facility in the Seabrook, NJ area.

This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives in plant startup environments, enjoys building structure from the ground up, and has a strong background in manufacturing operations, process improvement, team development, and cross-functional execution. 

You'll play a critical role in taking a new site from construction/startup through stabilized production, partnering closely with plant leadership, engineering, quality, maintenance and supply chain to ensure a safe, efficient, and successful launch. 

This position is 100% on-site and will be heavily involved through construction, startup, and at least the first year of operation. 

What You'll Be Doing

Plant Startup & Project Execution

  • Lead the operational planning and execution required to launch a new manufacturing facility.
  • Partner with engineering and project teams on equipment installation, line readiness, utility integration, layout flow, and startup planning.
  • Support commissioning, startup sequencing, ramp-up planning, and operational readiness.
  • Help ensure the site is fully prepared to meet production, quality, and safety expectations at launch. 

Operations Leadership

  • Establish initial production plans, performance expectations, and operational systems.
  • Support the transition from startup mode into stable, high-performing daily operations.
  • Work closely with the Plant Manager to help shape plant strategy, priorities, and performance goals.
  • Drive execution across production, maintenance, quality, and support functions. 

Team Building & Capability Development

  • Assess current team capabilities and identify talent or skill gaps.
  • Support hiring, onboarding, and training of key operational staff.
  • Build accountability, structure, and strong operating routines across the plant.
  • Coach leaders and frontline teams through startup and change. 

Continuous Improvement

  • Drive improvements in throughput, efficiency, reliability, labor utilization, and process performance.
  • Lead or support Lean/Six Sigma/continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Identify bottlenecks and implement sustainable solutions to improve output and reduce waste.
  • Standardize workflows, SOPs, PM practices, and operational controls. 

Food Safety, Quality & Compliance

  • Support and uphold all food safety, food quality, GMP, environmental, and workplace safety standards.
  • Partner with quality and technical teams to ensure startup processes are compliant and production-ready.
  • Help implement and reinforce systems that support long-term operational excellence.
  • Promote a culture of safety, ownership, and acountability acorss the site. 

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Work across engineering, procurement, supply chain, maintenance, HR, quality, and production.
  • Coordinate with vendors, contractors, OEMs, and suppliers to ensure timelines and startup needs are met.
  • Help manage startup priorities, risk mitigation, and operational issue resolution in a fast-moving environment. 

What We're Looking For

Required

  • 10+ years of manufacturing experience in plant operations, technical operations, production, engineering support, or maintenance leadership.
  • Strong experience in food, beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or other highly automated manufacturing environments.
  • Experience supporting or leading plant startups, line startups, commissioning, major expansions, or greenfield/brownfield projects.
  • Proven ability to lead teams and drive results in a fast-paced production environment.
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing systems, equipment, operational workflows, and plant performance.
  • Ability to work cros-functionally and manage multiple priorities during a complex startup.
  • Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, or related technical field.
  • Prior experience in beverage manufacturing strongly preferred.
  • Experience with high-speed production, packaging, filling, processing, or automated manufacturing systems.
  • Background in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, TQM, or continuous improvement.
  • Experience with Management of Change (MOC) and structured change management processes.
  • Strong understanding of preventive maintenance, spare parts planning, SOP development, and startup readiness.
  • Experience managing vendors, contractors, budgets, timeliens, and cross-functional project deliverables.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a rare opportunity to step into a visible, high-impact leadership role and help shape a new manufacturing operation from the ground up. If you've ever wanted to take ownership of a plant launch and build something meaningful, this role offers the chance to make a lasting impact on safety, performance, culture, and long-term operational success.

Schedule & Work Environment

  • On-site
  • Must be comfortable supporting a plant startup environment, including occasional off-hours, weekends, or emergency response needs during key phases of launch and ramp-up.

Physical & Plant Environment

This role is based in an active manufacturing setting and requires the ability to move throughout a production facility, including walking, standing, climbing stairs, and occasionally lifting or working around industrial equipment, noise, humidity, and varying temperatures. 

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