Operations Director – Commissary & Production

Location: Pasig City
Work Setup: Full Onsite
Industry: Food Manufacturing / Commissary Operations / FMCG

Role Overview

A leading high-volume food manufacturing operation is seeking a senior manufacturing leader to oversee end-to-end plant operations for a large-scale production facility. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across production, engineering, maintenance, quality, warehouse coordination, food safety, and workforce management.

The position will play a key role in strengthening operational efficiency, improving plant performance, supporting business expansion, and ensuring consistent product quality in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate should come from large-scale food production environments with strong exposure to dough-based, baked goods, flour-based, commissary, frozen bakery, or similar continuous manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

Plant & Manufacturing Leadership

• Lead overall plant operations covering production, engineering, maintenance, warehousing, quality, and operational support functions
• Drive plant performance through effective execution of operational KPIs including productivity, yield, downtime reduction, waste management, and service reliability
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with business growth and nationwide production requirements
• Ensure efficient plant utilization, capacity optimization, and sustainable operational improvements
• Oversee day-to-day manufacturing activities to ensure smooth and uninterrupted operations

Production & Operational Excellence

• Manage high-volume manufacturing operations focused on product consistency, efficiency, and process reliability
• Oversee production scheduling, manpower deployment, and capacity planning to meet operational targets
• Ensure adherence to manufacturing standards, SOPs, operational controls, and food production best practices
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
• Lead initiatives focused on process optimization, waste reduction, and operational efficiency improvements

Quality, Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure strict compliance with GMP, HACCP, sanitation standards, food safety regulations, and internal quality systems
• Partner with Quality and R&D teams to maintain product integrity, process consistency, and manufacturing standards
• Lead corrective and preventive action initiatives related to production deviations, quality incidents, and operational risks
• Promote a strong food safety and quality culture across plant operations

Engineering & Maintenance Management

• Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programs to ensure maximum equipment uptime and operational reliability
• Support equipment upgrades, automation initiatives, facility improvements, and plant expansion projects
• Ensure engineering and maintenance teams maintain high standards for operational readiness and equipment performance
• Drive improvements in machine efficiency, utility management, and maintenance planning

Supply Chain & Operational Coordination

• Collaborate closely with procurement, planning, logistics, and warehouse teams to ensure uninterrupted production operations
• Monitor inventory utilization, material availability, and operational readiness to support demand fluctuations
• Support production continuity during peak seasons, nationwide campaigns, and business expansion requirements
• Ensure effective coordination across cross-functional operational teams

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead and develop plant leadership teams across production, engineering, warehouse, quality, and support functions
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, operational discipline, safety, and continuous improvement
• Drive workforce capability development, succession planning, and organizational strengthening initiatives
• Mentor operational leaders and strengthen overall plant management capability

Financial & Business Performance

• Manage plant operational budgets, resource utilization, and cost optimization initiatives
• Monitor operational metrics and implement action plans to address performance gaps
• Drive sustainable operational efficiencies while maintaining quality and customer service standards
• Support long-term operational planning and manufacturing scalability initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Food Technology, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field
• MBA or postgraduate studies are an advantage
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within food manufacturing or FMCG environments
• Strong exposure to large-scale dough-based, bakery, flour-based, commissary, frozen food, or continuous manufacturing operations
• Proven leadership experience managing large manufacturing facilities and multi-functional plant teams
• Strong background in production operations, engineering, maintenance, quality systems, and supply chain coordination
• Deep understanding of GMP, HACCP, food safety regulations, and manufacturing compliance standards
• Demonstrated experience leading operational transformation, efficiency improvement, and plant optimization initiatives
• Proven ability to manage large workforce operations within fast-paced manufacturing environments

Preferred Industry Exposure

Strong preference for candidates with experience in:

• Bakery and bread manufacturing
• Dough-based or flour-based food production
• Commissary or centralized kitchen operations
• Frozen or ready-to-cook food manufacturing
• High-volume FMCG food production
• QSR manufacturing and production support operations

Key Competencies

• Strategic Manufacturing Leadership
• High-Volume Plant Operations
• Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
• Lean Manufacturing & TPM
• Food Safety & Quality Systems
• Engineering & Maintenance Management
• Cost Optimization & Productivity Improvement
• Workforce Leadership & Organizational Development
• Supply Chain & Cross-Functional Coordination
• Business & Operational Planning
• Change Management & Transformation Leadership