Senior VS Manager

World's Finest Chocolate does more than make delicious chocolate. Since 1949, we've helped our fundraising customers raise over $4,600,000,000! These funds are used to buy playgrounds, pay for reading specialists, purchase musical instruments, fund field trips, and more. Our employees work as a team to support our company's mission: To Deliver Extraordinary Value with Fun & Purpose.POSITION OVERVIEW: The Senior Manager, Manufacturing position is a strategic leadership role responsible for directing production for one of the core value streams at World's Finest Chocolate, our renowned Queen Anne cordial cherries operations. Our ideal candidate is eager for the opportunity to make an impact as our company grows. The successful candidate will lead a multishift operations team to drive excellence across Safety, Quality, Cost, Service, and People metrics, ensure regulatory compliance, and champion a culture of engagement and continuous improvement. This role is on-site in Chicago with occasional evening and weekend work required This role reports to the VP of ManufacturingKEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Manufacturing Operations Leadership Direct daily manufacturing operations for Queen Anne cordial cherries and other assigned product lines. Lead, develop, and mentor a team of production supervisors, line leads, and hourly manufacturing employees Optimize production planning and scheduling to balance efficiency and service Drive equipment reliability and efficiency through partnerships with Engineering, Maintenance, and 3rd party contractorsLeadership in Safety and Quality Lead by example in Safety, Food Safety, and our Core Values. Champion a zero-incident safety culture; institute safety audits, near-miss investigations, and root cause analysis to prevent incidents and improve safety performance. Maintain rigorous adherence to Food Safety and Quality Management Systems, including SQF (Safe Quality Food) certification Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, HACCP principles, FSMA requirements, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), including allergen control programs. Partner with Quality Assurance on corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) for quality deviations and customer complaintsCost Management & Financial Performance Own and manage department budget. Including $3MM+ Labor spend and controlling Material Variance on over 10MM production pounds. Drive waste reduction initiatives Control labor costs with productivity improvements, investing in cross-training and employee engagement, keeping a long-term outlookService & Customer Focus Achieve on-time delivery targets considering holiday season production ramp-up and new emerging seasonal and non-seasonal productsPeople Leadership, Development, and Culture Manage seasonal workforce planning including hiring, training, and onboarding; determine and maintain ideal ratio of temporary to full time employees Build and lead a high performing team through coaching, performance management, training & development, and succession planning Model and promote company core values while fostering an inclusive, safe, and engaging workplace culture Create an environment where employees feel valued, empowered, and connected to the company mission Lead by example through servant leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to delivering the finest experienceProduct Innovation & New Product Introduction Partner with R&D, Marketing, and Sales to commercialize and scale new products Evaluate manufacturing feasibility and costing for new products, material and packaging changes, process and equipment innovations, and new technology implementationsContinuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Champion Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles; Lead and champion process improvement projects Establish and monitor KPIs including OEE, first-pass yield, changeover time, scrap rate, and labor efficiency across product lines Maintain or implement 5S workplace organization, visual management systems, and standard work for complex production processes Drive root cause analysis (RCA) for quality issues, downtime events, and customer complaints Identify automation opportunities for various moulding, enrobing, and packaging processesQUALIFICATIONS:Education Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, or Food Science), Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related technical field required Master's degree (MBA or MS in Engineering) preferred Lean Six Sigma certification (Black Belt preferred)Experience 5-10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in CPG, food production, or confectionery industries, directly managing salaried and hourly production teams. Background in chocolate, confectionery, or food manufacturing strongly preferred FDA-regulated food manufacturing experience with SQF, BRC, or similar preferredSkills & Competencies Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies Strong understanding of HACCP, GMPs, FSMA, FDA food safety regulations, and allergen control programs Proficiency with manufacturing ERP systems including ERP (SAP preferred) Strong analytical and data analysis skills, for use in production and people planning, budgeting, constraint analysis, and problem solving / process improvement. Exceptional leadership and people development skills with ability to inspire diverse teams across multiple production areas Outstanding communication and collaboration skills Project management capabilities with experience leading NPIs, packaging automation implementation, and process improvement projects Financial acumen including labor and material cost management, budgeting, and modeling Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferredPersonal Attributes Results-driven leader with proven ability to manage complexity and deliver results Hands-on, visible presence on the manufacturing floor with willingness to engage directly with production challenges Customer-focused mindset with appreciation for premium quality and attention to detail Change agent with ability to drive continuous improvement while maintaining quality standards Collaborative partner who builds strong cross-functional relationships (Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Engineering, Marketing, etc.) Passionate about people and creating a world-class workplace cultureCOMPENSATION: Base Salary: $140,000 - $160,000 per year Annual Bonus: 10% of base salary, based on company and/or individual performance Medical insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Wellness Program 401k Matching HSA/FSA LifeLock Identity Theft Protection STD/LTD Life Insurance Tuition ReimbursementEQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER World's Finest Chocolate is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to providing an environment of respect and inclusivity for all employees.

Created: 2026-04-02