Operations Manager

About the job

At Tate & Lyle, our purpose is simple: Transforming Lives Through the Science of Food. With more than 165 years of ingredient innovation, we partner with leading food and beverage brands to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products enjoyed by millions of people every day. Combining expertise in sweetening, mouthfeel and fortification, we help customers win on taste, nutrition and performance while making a positive impact on society and the planet. With approximately 5,000 colleagues across 75 locations in 38 countries, we're united by a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration and growth. Read on to learn how this opportunity can contribute to our purpose while helping shape the future of food.

ROLE PURPOSE
The Operations Manager is responsible for the organization, planning, direction, and control of Production, Sanitation, Warehousing, Shipping, and Receiving operations at our Sycamore facility.
This role provides the leadership and technical expertise necessary to maintain, continuously improve, and optimize manufacturing processes to minimize costs, ensure safe operations, maintain high product quality, and maximize plant reliability and availability.
The Operations Manager is also responsible for fostering a culture of service excellence that meets and exceeds the expectations of employees, customers, and stakeholders while supporting the facility's operational and strategic goals.

• MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
• Effectively lead hourly and salaried team members in the safe and efficient operation of Dry Product Blending lines, Granulation Dryer operations, Shipping, Receiving, Warehousing, and Sanitation to achieve key performance metrics related to Safety, Quality, Production, Efficiency, and Employee Development.
• Continuously strengthen the site's safety culture by ensuring compliance with corporate and plant safety policies and procedures, proactively identifying and resolving safety concerns, and serving as a key contributor to the Plant Safety Committee and other safety initiatives.
• Model and reinforce Tate & Lyle's values, behaviors, and expectations across all operations teams.
• Partner closely with the Quality Assurance team to achieve site quality KPIs. Serve as the operational lead during customer, regulatory, and internal audits, and drive root cause analysis and corrective actions related to quality events, supplier issues, and customer complaints.
• Create and sustain a culture of continuous improvement by engaging employees in initiatives that improve productivity, reduce waste, optimize processes, and lower operational costs.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations teams to identify and implement projects focused on safety improvements, ergonomic enhancements, efficiency gains, and cost reduction opportunities.
• Successfully manage multiple priorities and complex assignments while making timely, data-driven decisions in a collaborative environment.
• Serve as a recognized subject matter expert across multiple manufacturing and operational processes.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, and integrity while proactively resolving competing priorities and supporting cross-functional teams with expertise and guidance.
• Coordinate closely with the Maintenance Department to support preventive maintenance activities and ensure production equipment reliability while minimizing downtime.
• Participate in J2E meetings as an Element Owner.
• Ensure all requirements within assigned J2E elements are maintained, completed, and updated.
• Ensure accurate and timely information is documented and maintained within Benchmark.
• Conduct internal audits and support corrective action follow-up activities.
• Participate as a leader within the Emergency Preparedness Team, including attendance at fire drills, evacuation exercises, and other required safety training activities.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Success in this position will be measured through achievement of site AOP targets and performance goals related to Safety, Environmental Health, Quality, Production, Reliability, Continuous Improvement, and Leadership Effectiveness.

• COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
• Strong planning, organization, and prioritization skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety and maintaining a positive safety culture.
• Strong knowledge of GMPs, food safety programs, HACCP principles, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Continuous Improvement methodologies and problem-solving techniques.
• Internal and external audit experience.
• Financial acumen, including the ability to interpret operational and financial performance metrics.
• Ensure Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for delivering commitments and achieving results.
• Cultivates Innovation: Creates and supports new and better ways for the organization to succeed.
• Develops Talent: Invests in employee growth and development to support both individual career goals and organizational needs.
• Working knowledge of EHSQS principles and behaviors.
• Knowledge of J2E systems, methodologies, and continuous improvement principles.
• Data analysis, reporting, and interpretation skills.
• Ability to identify operational gaps and develop practical solutions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience utilizing SAP.
• Experience utilizing Workday.

• QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline with 4+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible operations management experience.

• EXPERIENCE
• Experience in dry powder blending, material handling, packaging, warehousing, and shipping/receiving operations preferred.
• Experience managing and executing capital projects up to $1 million.
• Previous leadership experience within a food manufacturing environment required.

• SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to plan, execute, and coordinate resources and teams to achieve business objectives.
• Proven leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing and implementing SOPs.
• Interpersonal Savvy: Builds effective relationships and works collaboratively with individuals at all organizational levels.
• Drives Engagement: Creates an environment where employees are motivated and empowered to contribute to organizational success.
• Values Differences: Recognizes and leverages diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to improve team performance and decision-making.
• Demonstrates reliability, professionalism, and accountability in attendance and performance.
• Experience utilizing SAP.
• Experience utilizing Workday.
• Advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Tate & Lyle Compensation & Benefits

Tate & Lyle complies with all local and state regulations requiring salary range transparency.
When determining final compensation, we take into consideration: skillset, job scope, knowledge, prior experience, cost of living, market data, budget availability, and other factors as permitted by law.

The salary range for this position is: $90,100 - $130,000

In addition to competitive pay, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that includes but is not limited to:
· Medical, Dental, and Vision coverages
· Paid time off package, including vacation, sick time, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave
· 401(k) with company match
· Company-paid life insurance
· Additional benefits at no cost to employees, including:
o Lifestyle Spending Account
o Identity Theft Protection
o Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
o Telemedicine services
o And more
In addition to our Total Rewards package, culture and ED&I are very important to Tate & Lyle. We offer multiple Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that support a variety of communities and help foster an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive.

California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA")

The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.

Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.