Operations Manager - Cold Storage Production

Operations Manager, Protein Tempering

Joliet, IL $95,000 to $125,000 per year

A temperature-controlled logistics and food operations company is hiring a hands-on Operations Manager to lead daily production operations within a fast-paced warehouse environment. This role oversees boxing, unboxing, repackaging, labeling, rework, and overall production flow, driving measurable performance in labor productivity, throughput, quality, and operational consistency in a refrigerated, temperature-controlled setting.

Schedule: Full time.

Compensation: $95,000 to $125,000 per year, based on experience.

What You'll Do: This role leads all daily production operations, including boxing, unboxing, repackaging, labeling, and rework activities, driving performance across throughput, labor efficiency, quality, inventory accuracy, and production flow. The manager ensures production schedules are executed safely and efficiently in accordance with customer requirements, monitors staffing levels, allocates labor resources, and adjusts workforce plans based on workload demands, identifying operational bottlenecks and implementing process improvements to maximize productivity.

The role supervises production leads and hourly production employees, establishing accountability and clear performance expectations while coaching, training, and developing team members and reinforcing operational discipline, safety, and quality standards. The manager supports workforce engagement, retention, and overall team performance, ensures proper product handling procedures and inventory accuracy throughout production workflows, and maintains compliance with food safety, sanitation, quality assurance, and cold chain requirements. This role partners closely with warehouse, quality, and shipping teams to ensure operational consistency and customer satisfaction.

The role also monitors and reports on key performance indicators, including labor productivity, throughput, quality, and operational efficiency, using WMS and KPI tracking systems to support decision-making and operational visibility, and analyzes performance trends to recommend corrective actions or continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• 5 or more years of warehouse, production, packaging, food processing, or operational leadership experience
• Cold storage, food distribution, manufacturing, or temperature-controlled operations experience
• Experience with repackaging, rework, value-added services, or production operations
• Experience leading hourly production or warehouse teams
• Strong understanding of labor productivity and throughput management
• Experience operating within KPI-driven environments
• Experience with WMS or production tracking systems
• Strong organizational and operational leadership skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Experience in startup or high-growth operational environments

Compensation and Benefits:

• $95,000 to $125,000 per year, based on experience
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off

To apply, submit your resume for consideration.