Assistant Director of Operations- Charlotte, NC

Compass Group · Charlotte, NC

Level: Director+
Team: Production
Degree: Required (or equivalent experience)
Experience asked: 8+ years
Industry: Industrial
Posted: 23 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level production role at Compass Group (industrial) in Charlotte, NC. Hands-on leader with strong experience in ready-to-eat or fresh food production.

They ask for: 8+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
Tools it names: Lean

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Production Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $98k–$145k.

Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 28 production engineer openings in North Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

North Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 27 other live production postings in North Carolina.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: Typical (8+ years)

Skills these teams ask for most

✓ Lean 50%
✓ Team leadership 46%
Six Sigma 29%
Root cause 21%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 8+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

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 Compass Group
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?
- 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 Compass GroupAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Summary

Reports to: Director of Operations

Environment : Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Food Manufacturing Facility

At Fresh & Ready Food Group, we specialize in fresh, high-quality, ready-to-eat solutions delivered with speed, safety, and innovation. As Assistant Director of Operations, you will support the Director in leading all aspects of production, safety, quality, and performance within our manufacturing facility. This role is critical to executing operational strategies, developing frontline leaders, and driving continuous improvement aligned with Lean manufacturing and strict food safety standards.

Qualifications

✓Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Business, Engineering, or a related field or 8+ years of relevant leadership experience in lieu of a degree
✓5–7+ years of leadership experience in food manufacturing or a similar environment
✓Strong preference for ready-to-eat, fresh food, or short shelf-life production experience
✓Deep understanding of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement practices
✓Proven track record of operational success and increasing leadership responsibility
✓Strong communication, leadership, and analytical skills

requirements

associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Show full description ↓

Fresh & Ready Foods

•Pay Range: 120,000.00- 130,000.00
•Internal Employee Referral Bonus Available

Please note that employees in this role will work in a temperature-controlled environment with exposure to cold conditions for extended periods of time.

We Make Applying Easy! Just text JOB to 75000 & search for the requisition ID number 1576415 .

The advertised program is a conversational recruiting assistant that helps you apply to jobs with Compass Group. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out or HELP for help. Terms and conditions: http://olivia.paradox.ai/moSkg

Diversity of thought and inclusion for all is what drives our success - we invite you to start your journey with us today!

Leadership & Team Development

•Build and lead high-performing teams focused on safety, quality, and operational excellence
•Coach and develop managers and supervisors, strengthening leadership and succession pipelines
•Maintain strong floor presence with a hands-on, problem-solving approach

Safety & Compliance

•Champion a proactive safety culture and implement best-in-class safety practices
•Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards (including SQF and related programs)

Operational Excellence

•Drive continuous improvement using Lean Manufacturing and TPS methodologies
•Support cross-functional initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and throughput
•Oversee material flow, production standards, and performance metrics

Financial & Strategic Impact

•Support financial targets through cost reduction, waste elimination, and process improvements
•Contribute to product innovation and ready-to-eat program growth
•Prepare and communicate operational performance insights to leadership

Work Environment & Travel

•Active, hands-on role requiring time on the production floor
•Exposure to temperature-controlled environments and manufacturing equipment
•Ability to travel occasionally to customer or supplier sites

Ideal Candidate Profile

•Hands-on leader with strong experience in ready-to-eat or fresh food production
•Continuous improvement mindset with proven Lean experience
•Safety- and quality-driven, with strong regulatory awareness
•Collaborative and people-focused, with the ability to build strong teams
•Results-oriented, balancing strategic thinking with day-to-day execution
•Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, high-growth environment

Associates at Fresh & Ready Food Group are offered many fantastic benefits.

Full-time and part-time positions offer the following benefits to associates: Retirement Plan, Associate Shopping Program, Health and Wellness Programs, Discount Marketplace, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, including Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Legal Services, and Choice Auto and Home Program

Full-time positions also offer the following benefits to associates: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance/AD, Disability Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_FreshIdeas.pdf

About Compass Group: Achieving leadership in the foodservice industry

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or