Operations and Continuous Improvement Manager

About the role

Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Foodservice partners. We are looking for a Operations and Continuous Improvement Manager to lead day-to-day production operations at the Pembroke, NC facility with accountability for safely delivering the production schedule while meeting expectations for food safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, waste, and equipment effectiveness. As a member of the site leadership team, this role develops frontline leaders, establishes disciplined daily management, and coordinates cross-functional resources to resolve operating constraints. The manager also leads production's adoption and sustainment of the Dessert Holdings Manufacturing Operating System and enterprise Total Productive Maintenance initiatives. This position will work collaboratively with cross-functional leaders (QA, HR, R&D, etc.) to deliver site- and enterprise-wide initiatives. The primary accountability remains running production and consistently delivering business results; Continuous Improvement and TPM are the methods used to strengthen those results.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations and champion a culture of safety, food safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory compliance, ensuring adherence to GMPs, and company standards.
• Drive operational excellence through effective labor management, production planning, performance tracking, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Own key manufacturing metrics, including safety, quality, productivity, yield, waste, downtime, labor efficiency, and cost performance.
• Develop and lead production managers, supervisors, and frontline teams through coaching, accountability, performance management, and succession planning.
• Partner cross-functionally with Quality, Food Safety, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Warehouse, HR, and Finance to support plant performance and strategic goals.
• Lead problem-solving efforts to identify root causes, eliminate losses, and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
• Support TPM, Manufacturing Operating System, and Continuous Improvement programs to improve reliability, efficiency, and overall equipment performance.
• Ensure accurate production, quality, sanitation, training, and compliance documentation while maintaining audit and certification readiness.
• Serve as a key member of the site leadership team, contributing to operational planning, change management, capital projects, new product launches, and business growth initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, engagement, and continuous learning across the organization.
• Drive sustainable performance improvements through standardized processes, employee development, and data-driven decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Supply Chain, Food Science, or a related field required; equivalent combination of education and experience considered