Job Description

WHO WE ARE

For over three decades, Los Gatos Tomato Products has earned a reputation for a commitment to customers as an industry leading supplier of high-quality tomato paste. Long term relationships with growers and customers allows for alignment in the production of high-quality tomato paste tailored to customer needs and specifications.

Los Gatos Tomato Products was established in 1991 in the heart of Western Fresno County with the objective of growing and harvesting tomatoes from the most productive growing region in the world with a singular focus on producing high-quality tomato paste. Presently, four families with multi-generational farming operations and deep roots in agriculture serve as both committed growers and owners with shared values and commitment to a sustainable future.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

A friendly and inclusive environment where Accountability, Integrity, Quality, Safety and Teamwork are valued. We have a strong family culture based on a foundation of mutual respect, strong work-ethic and dependability.

• Job Type: Regular Full-Time Exempt
• Location: Huron, California
• Generous Holidays
• Competitive Vacation
• Health Insurance, EAP, HSA
• 401K
• Performance Incentives/Bonus opportunities
• Up to $150,000.00-$180,000.00 per year (Highly qualified candidates may be considered for a higher starting salary)

JOB SUMMARY: The Director of Operations is responsible for overseeing daily operational activities across production, field operations, maintenance, and facility functions to ensure safe, efficient, and high quality tomato processing. This role manages operational teams, drives performance improvements, ensures compliance with food safety standards, equipment readiness, maintains alignment with customer specifications, and supports execution of operational plans and budgets

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Manage day‑to‑day operations for production, maintenance, field support, and facility operations.
• Ensure production schedules, customer specifications, and pack plans are met efficiently and safely.
• Monitor workflow, OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), downtime, yields, and processing variables to maintain optimal performance.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure production processes consistently deliver high quality product meeting customer specifications.
• Maintain strong communication between field, production, maintenance, and quality teams.
• Support the maintenance team in planning and executing preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance.
• Coordinate seasonal plant readiness, ensuring all equipment is operational prior to production start.
• Partner with maintenance leadership on Capital and R&M projects, including scoping, vendor collaboration, and execution.
• Implement and enforce plant safety policies and ensure OSHA and industry regulatory compliance.
• Maintain food safety and quality standards, including SQF and customer‑specific requirements.
• Ensure employees receive proper training in safety, sanitation, and equipment operation.
• Manage operational budgets for labor, maintenance, supplies, and departmental needs.
• Track budget‑to‑actual performance and implement cost‑control measures.
• Monitor KPIs and operational trends to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Serve as a key member of the Director-level team, contributing to annual budgeting and multi-year growth plans
• Lead, coach, and develop operations managers, supervisors and leads across production and maintenance to prepare them for increased responsibility.
• Communicate performance expectations and hold teams accountable for results.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, and talent development.
• Foster an environment of teamwork, continuous learning, and accountability.
• Reduce waste, improve throughput, enhance quality, and strengthen process reliability.
• Work closely with HR, Quality, Safety, Finance, and Procurement to ensure aligned operations.
• Maintain strong relationships with suppliers, contractors, and other external partners.
• Provide regular reports on operational performance, key metrics, and improvement activities.
• Partner strategically with HR to foster a culture of mentorship, teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement
• Other duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Employee will spend long hours sitting and using office equipment and computers, which can cause muscle strain. The employee will also have to do some lifting of supplies and materials from time to time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Five or more years’ experience managing maintenance function within a manufacturing environment
• Strong electrical background (PLC,instrumentation, industrial electrical work)
• Knowledge of precision, preventative and predictive maintenance processes
• Experience developing and managing capital improvement projects
• Skills with Lean Manufacturing and other process improvement techniques

SKILLS : Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to use Word, Excel and other programs as well as e-mail; effectively use a personal computer, cellphone or other devices to assist in record keeping and communication. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, growers, customers and the general public. Bi-lingual in English and Spanish is a plus.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk or hear, bend over and/or squat. The employee is frequently required to walk on uneven surfaces and roughly prepared soils. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee frequently is exposed to loud equipment noises, dust, wind, heat and cold in both inside and outside environments.

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