Sr. Manager of Technical Operations

The Sr. Manager leads a support team of technicians and engineers supporting new and existing aseptic manufacturing facilities from engineering handover through commercial production, with focus on thermal processing and batching. This role serves as the primary point of contact and Subject Matter Expert for Plant Directors and Maintenance Managers during start-ups, product launches, and troubleshooting activities. The Sr. Manager partners with Plant Directors to identify opportunities, coordinate projects, and drive completion across OEMs, Engineering, Operations, Quality Assurance, IT/systems, Training, Maintenance, Sanitation, Production Scheduling, Raw Material Management, Inventory Control, and Continuous Improvement. This role is also responsible for maintaining aseptic best practices, sharing key findings, supporting investigations such as system deviations, and identifying innovative technologies that improve aseptic operations.

The role applies standard engineering methods to design, analyze, test, maintain, repair, and improve aseptic systems, products, components, and assemblies. It also develops new projects, maintains existing systems, and mentors aseptic engineers and plant personnel through targeted training programs.

Essential Functions

• Create and manage systems, specifications, procedures, troubleshooting guides, and visual aids for aseptic processing, ingredients, beverage sterilization, VTIS, UHT, Flex, and pasteurization systems.

• Lead multiple complex projects across aseptic plants, including start-up support, transition from engineering to production, planned overhauls, calibrations, and emergency troubleshooting through the aseptic beverage field service program.

• Serve as the primary onsite contact, functional leader, and Subject Matter Expert for Plant Directors and plant teams, partnering with HQ, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Process Engineering, OEMs, and other support teams to identify issues, coordinate action items, and drive execution.

• Train and mentor engineers, Team Members, and plant personnel as the Subject Matter Expert for aseptic beverage production, technical standards, troubleshooting practices, and operational best practices.

• Analyze sterilization diverts, operational trends, quality data, daily metrics, and business-system workflows to identify root causes, prioritize risks and opportunities, and recommend improvements to safety, quality, line performance, cost, and yield.

• Conduct scheduled operational audits, assess effectiveness and efficiency, share findings and best practices across sites and functions, and partner with teams to close performance gaps.

• Support a sustainable supply chain model that meets customer demand, optimizes bottle output, and minimizes yield loss in batching and fluid processing.

• Travel approximately 50-60% to aseptic plants; occasional international travel may be required, and travel may temporarily increase during urgent business needs.

Additional Functions

• Work with external manufacturing partners to integrate new business and meet company and program goals.

• Identify innovative technology to further improve the overall aseptic business.

• This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required for this role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without prior notice.

Competencies

• Self-motivated, with the ability to prioritize and manage workload efficiently to support key stakeholder needs. Expected to define a clear career development path and identify improvement areas needed for success.

• Ability to negotiate, collaborate, and influence through servant leadership.

• Ability to analyze data and identify, mitigate, and communicate risk.

• Results-driven, with the ability to communicate the need for action.

• Experience working in a food manufacturing environment.

• Strong planning and project management skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:

• 6 years of experience with Tetra and GEA thermal processing equipment in a manufacturing environment, preferably food and beverage, and/or field engineering support operations.

• 6 years of experience with aseptic and thermal process systems.

• 6 years of experience managing people and/or projects.

*Experience may include a combination of work experience and education.

• Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience with Tetra and/or GEA thermal processing equipment in a manufacturing environment, preferably food and beverage, and/or field engineering support operations.

• 10+ years of experience managing people and/or projects.

*Experience may include a combination of work experience and education.

Education

• Minimum Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Operations, or another related discipline; equivalent work experience, including related field operations experience, may be considered.

• Preferred:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Operations, or another related discipline; equivalent work experience, including related field operations experience, may be considered.