Plant Operations Director – Manufacturing & Commissary

Location: Pasig City
Industry: Food Manufacturing / Commissary Operations / Consumer Food Production
Level: AVP-Level

Job Summary:

We are looking for a seasoned operations leader to head large-scale manufacturing and commissary operations supporting a nationwide food retail network. The role is responsible for overseeing end-to-end plant operations including production, engineering, quality, warehouse, dispatch, and continuous improvement initiatives across multiple facilities.

This position will lead a highly dynamic and fast-paced manufacturing environment with a strong focus on operational efficiency, production consistency, food safety, workforce leadership, and process standardization. The role requires extensive exposure to high-volume food production operations with time-sensitive manufacturing and highly standardized processing systems.

The ideal candidate has strong experience managing complex manufacturing operations involving high daily output, process-driven production lines, and large workforce operations within food manufacturing, bakery, commissary, FMCG, or similar environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Plant & Manufacturing Operations

• Lead and oversee day-to-day plant and commissary operations including production, warehouse, engineering, maintenance, quality assurance, dispatch, and operational support functions.
• Ensure achievement of production targets, operational KPIs, service levels, and supply continuity requirements across facilities.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives focused on productivity improvement, waste reduction, yield optimization, and process efficiency.
• Develop and implement operational strategies to support business growth, scalability, and nationwide operational requirements.
• Oversee manpower planning, production scheduling, plant utilization, and operational resource allocation.

Production & Process Management

• Manage high-volume production operations within a fast-paced manufacturing environment with daily output requirements and strict turnaround timelines.
• Oversee standardized food production processes involving batching, mixing, processing, baking, packaging, and dispatch operations.
• Ensure product consistency, operational efficiency, quality compliance, and process standardization across production lines.
• Monitor production efficiency, downtime, throughput, inventory movement, and operational performance metrics.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize plant performance, reduce wastage, and improve operational reliability.

Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, sanitation, food safety, and regulatory standards across all operations.
• Lead audit readiness initiatives and strengthen operational governance, process controls, and compliance systems.
• Partner closely with quality and technical teams to ensure product consistency and manufacturing excellence.

Engineering & Maintenance

• Oversee plant engineering and maintenance programs to ensure equipment reliability and operational uptime.
• Lead preventive maintenance planning, utilities management, facility improvement projects, and operational troubleshooting efforts.
• Support plant modernization and operational enhancement initiatives.

Leadership & Organizational Management

• Lead and develop department heads, plant managers, supervisors, and operations leaders across multiple functions.
• Manage a large workforce within a highly operational and production-driven environment.
• Foster a culture of accountability, operational discipline, safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen leadership capability, succession planning, and organizational development initiatives across operations teams.

Strategic & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with executive leadership, finance, supply chain, procurement, HR, and commercial teams on strategic operational initiatives.
• Support expansion, operational transformation, and process improvement programs.
• Provide regular operational updates, plant performance reviews, and strategic recommendations to senior management.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Food Technology, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• At least 20 years of relevant experience in manufacturing or plant operations leadership.
• Strong experience in large-scale food manufacturing, commissary, bakery, FMCG, or similar high-volume production environments.
• Exposure to highly standardized production systems and time-sensitive manufacturing operations is highly preferred.
• Experience handling operations involving fresh production, short shelf-life products, or high daily output manufacturing is an advantage.
• Proven leadership experience managing complex operations, multiple department heads, and large workforce structures.
• Strong background in production operations, engineering, quality systems, warehouse operations, and operational planning.
• Excellent leadership, operational management, stakeholder management, and strategic execution capabilities.
• Willing to travel regularly for plant and site visits.