Job Description

About the Role

A well-established manufacturing site with significant recent investment is seeking an experienced ESL Operations Manager to lead a newly created department focused on Extended Shelf Life (ESL) and aseptic processing . This is a pivotal leadership opportunity for a hands-on operations professional with a food and beverage manufacturing background , ready to help scale a high-growth product line serving major retailers and foodservice clients across the eastern U.S.

This role combines floor-level leadership with strategic planning and offers long-term growth potential within a stable, well-capitalized organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operations for ESL and aseptic production: raw product intake, UHT processing, sterile tank management, packaging, palletizing, and cold storage coordination
• Supervise a growing team of 12–15, including processing and packaging operators across multiple shifts
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Maintenance, Blending, Batching, HTST, Quality, and Distribution to ensure seamless daily operations
• Manage planning and scheduling to meet production targets and build inventory for shelf-stable distribution
• Support a newly commissioned ESL production line and help establish best practices for efficiency, quality, and safety
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in food and beverage manufacturing , preferably with ESL, UHT, or aseptic processing
• Strong understanding of process operations, sterile packaging systems, and automated palletizing
• Proven ability to lead shift teams and collaborate across departments
• Excellent troubleshooting skills and a commitment to food safety and quality standards
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations, or equivalent experience strongly preferred

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