Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
Manufacturing Operations Manager jobs in Wisconsin are consistently in demand, with strong hiring concentrated in food and beverage processing, industrial machinery, plastics, and paper and packaging manufacturing. Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison are the largest hiring metros, with established employers like Kohler, Oshkosh Corporation, and SC Johnson maintaining long-term operations manager needs. The most sought-after specialties in Wisconsin are lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and multi-shift production oversight. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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We are the world's #1 gummi candy manufacturer. It's a great time to join HARIBO and help spread "Childlike Happiness" (one of our core values) to consumers across the United States. The Head of Manufacturing Operations is responsible for factory floor operations at HARIBO’s state-of-the-art food manufacturing plant in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin (Kenosha area on Interstate 94).
The Head of Manufacturing Operations will oversee operations for our only factory in the United States. Our plant is a 24/6 operation with over 500,000 square feet, and well over 350+ employees total. The Head of Manufacturing Operations will be the site champion for factory floor manufacturing operations and championing a people-centric culture in the plant.
The ideal candidate will have at least 10+ years of manufacturing experience with at least 5+ years in a Managerial role within manufacturing. Additionally, prior experience in food manufacturing and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing is required to better understand the regulations, best practices, and guidelines required in a gummy candy manufacturing plant. Are you HARIBO?
Responsibilities:
- Lead factory floor operations HARIBO of America’s gummy candy manufacturing plant in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
- Manage and lead salaried factory leaders and hourly factory associates
- Accountable for delivering established goals and KPIs
- Execute strategic plans and implement new plans with a continuous improvement mindset
- Partner and work cross-functionally with other departments including Quality, Safety, Engineering & Maintenance, Supply Chain, Human Resources and other internal departments and stakeholders
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Management, Operations, Food Science or other related field
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in manufacturing
- Minimum 5+ years of experience of Managerial experience formally managing large teams in a manufacturing environment
- Prior experience working directly in a food manufacturing plant or a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant (providing experience and understanding in legal regulations, best practices, and guidelines required in a gummy candy manufacturing plant)
- Demonstrated understanding of and adhering to GMPs—Good Manufacturing Processes
- Demonstrated understanding of FDA food regulations
- Ability to travel domestically as needed
- Ability to travel internationally, if needed, to visit other HARIBO manufacturing plants globally
Skills
- SAP experience preferred
- FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 knowledge preferred
- HACCP Certification preferred
- Experience Lead Manufacturing
HARIBO of America, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and maintains a Drug-Free Workplace. Employment at HARIBO of America, Inc. is subject to post offer, pre-employment drug testing. The Company’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, including protected veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. HARIBO also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also HARIBO’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
HARIBO is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please contact the location for which you are applying and ask to speak with the human resources representative or email careers-us@Haribo.com.
We are the world's #1 gummi candy manufacturer. It's a great time to join HARIBO and help spread "Childlike Happiness" (one of our core values) to consumers across the United States. The Head of Manufacturing Operations is responsible for factory floor operations at HARIBO’s state-of-the-art food manufacturing plant in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin (Kenosha area on Interstate 94).
The Head of Manufacturing Operations will oversee operations for our only factory in the United States. Our plant is a 24/6 operation with over 500,000 square feet, and well over 350+ employees total. The Head of Manufacturing Operations will be the site champion for factory floor manufacturing operations and championing a people-centric culture in the plant.
The ideal candidate will have at least 10+ years of manufacturing experience with at least 5+ years in a Managerial role within manufacturing. Additionally, prior experience in food manufacturing and/or pharmaceutical manufacturing is required to better understand the regulations, best practices, and guidelines required in a gummy candy manufacturing plant. Are you HARIBO?
Responsibilities:
- Lead factory floor operations HARIBO of America’s gummy candy manufacturing plant in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
- Manage and lead salaried factory leaders and hourly factory associates
- Accountable for delivering established goals and KPIs
- Execute strategic plans and implement new plans with a continuous improvement mindset
- Partner and work cross-functionally with other departments including Quality, Safety, Engineering & Maintenance, Supply Chain, Human Resources and other internal departments and stakeholders
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Management, Operations, Food Science or other related field
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in manufacturing
- Minimum 5+ years of experience of Managerial experience formally managing large teams in a manufacturing environment
- Prior experience working directly in a food manufacturing plant or a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant (providing experience and understanding in legal regulations, best practices, and guidelines required in a gummy candy manufacturing plant)
- Demonstrated understanding of and adhering to GMPs—Good Manufacturing Processes
- Demonstrated understanding of FDA food regulations
- Ability to travel domestically as needed
- Ability to travel internationally, if needed, to visit other HARIBO manufacturing plants globally
Skills
- SAP experience preferred
- FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000 knowledge preferred
- HACCP Certification preferred
- Experience Lead Manufacturing
HARIBO of America, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and maintains a Drug-Free Workplace. Employment at HARIBO of America, Inc. is subject to post offer, pre-employment drug testing. The Company’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, including protected veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. HARIBO also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also HARIBO’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
HARIBO is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation to assist with completing the electronic application, please contact the location for which you are applying and ask to speak with the human resources representative or email careers-us@Haribo.com.
See All 13 Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
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Find JobsManufacturing Operations Manager Jobs by City in Wisconsin
Where Wisconsin roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Manufacturing Operations Manager Job Market in Wisconsin
A snapshot from current Wisconsin openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Wisconsin Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in manufacturing operations manager jobs across Wisconsin.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations management, manufacturing, or a related field
- Five or more years of progressive manufacturing leadership or supervisory experience
- Demonstrated knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies
- Experience managing production schedules, quality systems, and cross-functional plant teams
- Proficiency with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or equivalent manufacturing platforms
- Strong record of meeting safety compliance standards including OSHA regulations and plant safety protocols
Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a manufacturing operations manager in Wisconsin?
Most Wisconsin manufacturing operations managers start with a bachelor's degree in engineering, supply chain, or business and build several years of experience in production or supervisory roles. The state does not require a government-issued license for this role, but employers consistently value credentials such as a Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt, a Certified Manager of Quality certification from ASQ, or a CPIM designation from APICS. Building plant-floor experience at Wisconsin's many mid-size manufacturers is the most direct path.
Which companies hire manufacturing operations managers in Wisconsin?
Employers hiring manufacturing operations managers in Wisconsin right now include Plexus, AMTRACO, and Clarios, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Wisconsin's deep base of food processing, industrial equipment, and plastics manufacturers means demand is spread across both large multinationals and family-owned regional plants.
Which Wisconsin cities have the most manufacturing operations manager jobs?
The cities with the most manufacturing operations manager openings in Wisconsin are Milwaukee, Germantown, and Neenah. Milwaukee dominates due to its dense cluster of industrial machinery, metal fabrication, and consumer goods manufacturers, while Green Bay is driven by paper, packaging, and food processing companies, and Madison reflects growth in medical device and technology-adjacent manufacturing.
Are there remote manufacturing operations manager jobs in Wisconsin?
Yes, but they're rare. Manufacturing operations managers are fundamentally plant-floor roles that require direct oversight of production lines, equipment, and shift teams, so fully remote positions are uncommon. About 50% of manufacturing operations manager openings tied to Wisconsin are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those tend to cover multi-site or corporate continuous improvement roles rather than single-plant positions.
How can I get hired as a manufacturing operations manager in Wisconsin with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a production supervisor or shift leader role at a Wisconsin manufacturer and building upward from there. Large Wisconsin employers like Oshkosh Corporation, Harley-Davidson, and Generac run structured leadership development programs that bring in candidates from engineering, quality, or supply chain backgrounds. A Lean Six Sigma Yellow or Green Belt credential significantly strengthens early applications, and many Wisconsin technical colleges offer manufacturing management certificates that align with what regional employers look for.
Where can I find and apply to manufacturing operations manager jobs in Wisconsin?
You can find and apply to manufacturing operations manager jobs in Wisconsin on Migrate Mate, which lists current Wisconsin openings updated in real time. Search the listings, find the roles that match your background and target location, and apply directly to whichever ones fit.
See All 13 Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
Find roles in Wisconsin that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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