Operations Manager – Dairy Operations

About the role

The Operations Manager will lead daily milk procurement, processing, quality assurance, packaging, and cold‑chain distribution. The role ensures operational efficiency, strict food‑safety compliance, minimal yield loss, and optimal plant throughput while supervising plant personnel and logistics.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee end‑to‑end fluid milk processing, pasteurization, homogenization, standardizing and manufacturing of dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, butter and powder.
• Develop and execute production schedules to meet sales demand while reducing downtime and waste.
• Monitor KPIs including OEE, throughput, utility consumption and yield loss.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance for processing equipment, refrigeration, boilers and packaging machinery.
• Maintain compliance with HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and enforce SOPs and GMPs.
• Lead internal and external audits and implement corrective actions.
• Manage raw milk collection, cold‑chain logistics and inventory of raw materials, packaging and finished goods.
• Train, mentor and supervise operational supervisors, shift engineers, lab technicians and plant labor.
• Control operational budgets, overtime, utilities and material shrinkage.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering, Industrial Management or related field.
• 5+ years progressive leadership experience in dairy processing, food manufacturing or FMCG beverage operations.
• Strong knowledge of pasteurization, CIP systems, separation, homogenization, UHT processing and packaging lines.
• Thorough understanding of HACCP, GMP and related food‑safety regulations.

Required skills

• Pasteurization
• Clean‑in‑Place (CIP) systems
• Homogenization
• Ultra‑High Temperature (UHT) processing
• Packaging line operation
• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) monitoring
• Preventive maintenance of processing equipment
• Food safety standards (HACCP, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000)
• Milk quality testing (FAT/SNF, microbiology, antibiotic screening)
• Cold‑chain logistics management