Watershed Foods LLC · 3 months ago
Director of Operations
Gridley, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Director/ExecutiveWatershed Foods LLC is seeking a hands-on, people-first leader to run the daily operations of their food manufacturing plant. This role involves overseeing production, ensuring safety and quality, and leading a team to achieve operational excellence while fostering a positive workplace culture.
Consumer GoodsFood and BeverageManufacturingSnack Food
Responsibilities
Own Plant Performance Take full responsibility for production, quality, cost, and service goals. You’ll monitor key metrics like yield, throughput, labor efficiency, and P&L, and use them to drive smart, continuous improvement
Lead with a Business Mindset Think like an owner. Spot opportunities to reduce waste, cut costs, improve flow, and prepare the operation for growth
Run Daily Operations Oversee production, maintenance, and sanitation across 3 shifts. Make sure we’re operating safely, efficiently, and in line with customer demand
Champion Safety & Food Quality Be a visible role model when it comes to workplace safety, food safety, and product quality. Keep us compliant with all regulations and industry best practices
Develop and Inspire People Directly manage Production, Maintenance, and Sanitation leaders while supporting supervisors and nearly 70 operators across the plant. Set clear expectations, coach for growth, and foster accountability, teamwork, and pride in the work
Collaborate Across Teams Partner with Quality, Engineering, R&D, Procurement, HR, Sales, and Customer Service. Whether it’s scaling up a new product, kicking off a new process, or solving a supply challenge, you’ll connect the dots between operations and the rest of the business
Drive Continuous Improvement Apply Lean principles and structured problem-solving to eliminate waste and streamline processes. Lead or support strategic projects like automation, capital improvements, or workflow redesigns
Be a Hands-On Problem Solver When issues arise — whether it’s a production hiccup, a staffing gap, or a supply chain bottleneck — you won’t just delegate, you’ll dive in, find solutions, and keep things moving
Qualification
Required
Proven People Leader - You know how to coach, develop, and hold managers and teams accountable while building trust and engagement
Business-Savvy Operator - Strong grasp of how day-to-day plant operations tie to financial results, and you act quickly when metrics slip
Data-Driven Decision Maker - Comfortable using KPIs, reports, and trends to guide actions and priorities
Collaborative Communicator - Skilled at working across functions, aligning stakeholders, and keeping communication clear and consistent
Detail-Oriented & Organized - Able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment without losing sight of execution
Tech-Forward Mindset - Open to using modern tools and technology to improve efficiency and workflows
Benefits
PPO or HSA medical benefits with Employer Contributions.
Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, Disability insurance.
401K with a competitive company match.
8 Holidays, Vacation accrual, PTO program, Parental Leave.
Attendance, Safety, Service Awards.
Tuition Reimbursement Program.
Uniform and Boots provision.
Employee Assistance Program.
Chaplain Program.
Smart Dollar.
Company Events and Luncheons.
Paid Volunteer Days.
Referral bonuses.
Company
Watershed Foods LLC
Watershed Foods, LLC, is a progressive, growth-oriented company involved in the food and biotech sectors.
Founded in 2004
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Watershed Foods LLC has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$0.1MKey Investors
Center for Dairy Research (CDR)
2024-06-11Grant· $0.1M
Leadership Team
Derek Meiss, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Aaron Anliker
President & COO
Recent News
Food Business News
2026-01-07
Company data provided by crunchbase