Director of Operations - Envera
Lesaffre · West Chester, PA
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Production
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level production role at Lesaffre (industrial) in West Chester, PA.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, OEE, EHS / safety
- Day to day
- about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Pennsylvania: typical posted base $145k–$200k.
Median of the low and high ends of 6 live postings that list pay, out of 30 production engineer openings in Pennsylvania, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Pennsylvania plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 29 other live production postings in Pennsylvania.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 7+)
Typical $127k–$165k, from 5 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 50%
- Team leadership 43%
- ✓ EHS / safety 30%
- Automation 20%
- Six Sigma 20%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Lesaffre
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
Full description from LesaffreAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Principal Duties
- ◆Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to Lesaffre’s safety-first culture by strictly following all safety protocols and participating in required safety programs
- ◆Manages and develops all manufacturing functions; fermentation, drying, formulation, blending, utilities, maintenance, lean manufacturing and regular CAPEX implementation.
- ◆Oversees all product manufacturing and optimization:
- ◆People and asset Safety standards
- ◆Quality performance (all products manufactured match applicable quality standards)
- ◆Cost optimization
- ◆Maintenance for site and high level of OEE (overall equipment efficiency)
- ◆Leads a team of 20-25 employees organized over two shifts.
- ◆Identifies and evaluates emerging technologies, trends, and best practices in the industry to maintain our manufacturing on a competitive edge.
- ◆Collaborates cross-functionally with business development, Quality, R&D and marketing teams to ensure seamless integration of technical capabilities.
- ◆Fosters a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and knowledge-sharing within the technical team.
- ◆Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- ✓Advanced degree in engineering, biotechnology, or a related technical field.
- ✓Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in a technical leadership role within the environmental industry.
- ✓Extensive experience in Biotech, High-tech, Probiotics or Feed Manufacturing industries is required
- ✓Proven track record of successfully driving performance and improvement of production site
- ✓Exceptional problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills
- ✓Results-oriented, energetic, resourceful, with a strong service orientation and positive can-do attitude. Continually striving for excellence.
- ✓Balance multiple tasks and prioritize workload in a fast-paced environment.
- ✓Ability to navigate change and resolve conflict in a professional manner.
- ✓Strong project management and team-building capabilities.
- ✓Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- ✓Ability to travel 10% of the time.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Business unit overview
Envera
Envera develops and manufactures innovative microbial solutions to help clients achieve their business goals across a wide range of applications. From wastewater treatment for municipalities and industry to cleaning solutions for household and commercial use, Envera’s products leverage the power of microbes to address challenges in bioremediation, water quality management, and solid waste treatment. Through the discovery, isolation, and industrial application of bacteria, Envera offers high-performing and sustainable products that benefit the lives of humans, animals, and plants. The company’s mission is to leverage the power of microbes to create a more sustainable future.
Position Overview
The Director of Operations is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing and optimizing the entire manufacturing operations of the organization. The Director of Operations is accountable for driving operational excellence, improving efficiency, and ensuring the seamless production and delivery of high-quality products.
As a key member of our executive leadership team, you will lead and direct strategic growth initiatives and and contribute to the development of groundbreaking solutions.
Core Lesaffre Competencies
- •Drives individual development: supports ones and people development; deals with complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity
- •Drives team efficiency and energy: manages team efficiency and manages change
- •Manages by example: maintain a professional attitude in all circumstances
- •Visioning: sets the vision and defines strategies
- •Inspiring: engages through a meaningful purpose; influences by a strong personal impact and convictions
Physical/sensory demands
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 accommodation 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 stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee will be required to bend, twist and use stairs/ladders. The employee is occasionally required to sit. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 55 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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee can be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particulates; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; and extreme heat. The noise level requires the use of hearing protection in certain specified areas.