Operations Manager

Aspire Bakeries is a North American baking company with a leadership position in specialty frozen baked goods. Formed from leading bakery companies, its innovative food portfolio includes breads, artisan breads, buns, cookies, donuts, muffins and pastries from beloved brands like La Brea Bakery®, Otis Spunkmeyer®, and Oakrun Farm Bakery®. With 13 bakeries in North America, we are committed to driving innovation, predicting upcoming consumer trends and flavors, and exceeding our customers’ expectations. Aspire Bakeries champions the values of Integrity, Ownership, Customer Focus, Creativity and Care to help us deliver on People Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Collaboration.

Responsible for overseeing all aspects of bakery operations during weekends, including safety, food safety, food quality, employee performance, and morale. This position ensures the safe and efficient operation of the entire bakery during weekend shifts.

Accountabilities:

• Lead and drive planned maintenance, operations, and sanitation activities during weekends.
• Lead weekend production, ensuring all safety and FSQA requirements are followed.
• Execute weekend work schedules for maintenance and sanitation, in conjunction with the Maintenance and Sanitation Manager.
• Maintain positive working relationships with employees and departmental teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide on-shift support to all departments, direct and indirect, to manage employee performance, discipline, and development, while ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures during the weekend shifts.  Escalate issues to appropriate department manager as needed.
• Manage bakery performance and provide manager support and direction when required outside regular business hours.
• Act as Incident Commander for emergency evacuations, assuming overall responsibility for all decisions relating to the management of the incident.
• Manage the line operation in accordance with plant policies and procedures.
• Monitor and ensure all shift reports and weekend updates are completed accurately and timely.
• Perform Safety GEMBA walks and manage incident investigations, follow-ups, corrective actions, and support all health and safety initiatives.
• Ensuring protocols are followed (shift huddles/communication boards) during weekend production.
• Participate in projects, product launches, departmental initiatives, and weekly maintenance prep meetings.
• Adhere to the master cleaning schedule following GMP criteria.
• Review work orders and notifications and work with planner to meet timelines.
• Ensure that all work is completed in a manner that complies with Government regulatory guidelines.
• Manage and direct the work of on-site contractors when necessary. 
• Maintain employee safety while ensuring Aspire Bakeries plant safety policies and practices are adhered to.
• Ensure reliable weekly startup of all production areas.
• Provide excellent leadership by example from the floor to everyone on your shift, acting with honesty and integrity and ensuring that the cultural values of Aspire Bakeries are being promoted at all times.
• Ensure all employees are aware of their responsibilities specific to food safety, legality and quality.  Maintain the required hygiene, safety and quality standards on the production floor
• Any other duties as assigned by Manager.

Qualifications:

• Minimum Grade 12 (OSSGD) is required. Preference will be given to candidates who possess post-secondary education in either food science, engineering, technical or related disciplines.
• Minimum 3 to 5 years supervisory experience, preferably in a food manufacturing environment is required.
• Knowledge of the manufacturing process, procedures and equipment is required. 
• Trained in Health and Safety due diligence and able to conduct risk assessments is required.
• Experience in bakery/yeast/frozen food manufacturing would be an asset.
• Ability to direct, lead and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with experience in report writing.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully plan, problem-solve and make informed decisions.
• Competence in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

We thank each applicant for taking the time and effort to submit your resume, however, only candidates to be interviewed will be contacted. Our organization is committed to promoting the independence, dignity, integration, and equality of opportunity of persons with disabilities by ensuring the accessibility of our facilities and services. Accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment and selection process. Applicants need to make their required accommodations known in advance.