Senior Director of Technical Operations

Key Responsibilities

• Fruit Extraction Design, operate, and continuously improve fruit unloading and extraction processes
• Work closely with plant teams to optimize juice blending and processing operations with a keen focus on quality and losses
• Lead oil-recovery operations for citrus peel essential oils recovery processes to maximize yield recover by variety
• Develop and own Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Drive sanitation and housekeeping improvements and consistency across all operations
• Establish and govern a yield management system across all fruit varieties, seasonal curves, and supplier lots—tracking juice yield (% w/w), peel oil yield, and pomace moisture
• Set annual yield improvement targets; report performance vs. plan monthly to the COO with variance root-cause analysis
• Lead cross-functional loss mapping (raw material receiving, wash, press, finisher, filler, CIP) to identify and eliminate yield loss sources
• Partner with Procurement to develop fruit purchasing specs (Brix/acid ratio, maturity index, defect tolerances) that protect both quality and yield economics
• Model yield scenarios for new products, seasonal transitions, and supplier changes prior to production commitment
• Oversee oil recovery system including peel preparation, screw presses, centrifuge polishing, and storage/packaging in compliance with food-grade and fragrance-grade specifications
• Identify and develop secondary revenue streams from pomace (pectin extraction, animal feed, compost) in partnership with sustainability and finance teams
• Ensure GC/MS, refractive index, and sensory profiling of all oil lots; maintain Certificates of Analysis and traceability records
• Serve as PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) and technical lead for FSMA compliance, SQF or BRC audit readiness, and USDA/FDA regulatory submissions
• Own the HACCP plan for extraction and oil recovery operations; lead annual revalidation and incident response
• Manage microbiological, chemical, and physical testing protocols for incoming fruit, in-process juice, and finished goods
• Interface with third-party labs, certification bodies (USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project, Kosher, Halal) to maintain brand certifications
• Develop and execute the capital plan for extraction, and oil recovery assets—scoping, vendor selection, installation, commissioning, and validation
• Partner with Maintenance to implement a preventive/predictive maintenance program for presses, centrifuges, finishers, evaporators, and separators
• Evaluate lease vs. buy decisions, equipment ROI, and payback models for press line expansions

Qualifications

• Preferred: Six Sigma Black Belt or Lean certification
• Experience in certified organic, non-GMO, or clean-label manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with HPP (High-Pressure Processing) and cold-chain juice operations
• Working knowledge of essential oil market pricing, trading, and broker relationships
• Experience scaling production from artisan/craft to high-volume commercial operations
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus given typical production workforce demographics
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, or a closely related field; Master's or PhD preferred
• 10+ years of progressive experience in juice, beverage, essential oil, or related food/botanical manufacturing—with at least 5 years in a senior technical or engineering leadership role
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in citrus and/or cold-press juice extraction; working knowledge of oil recovery equipment (FMC/JBT, Brown International, Alfa Laval, GEA, Voran, or equivalent)
• Proven track record of designing and executing yield improvement programs with documented, quantifiable results
• Practical experience with GC/MS analysis and interpretation of essential oil quality data
• PCQI certification or willingness to obtain within 90 days of hire
• Proficiency with statistical process control (SPC), data visualization, and ERP/MES systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate technical findings into executive-ready presentations and financial impact statements