VP Manufacturing & Operations

ChocXO ChocolatierDallas, TX 75244

Company Overview:

ChocXO Chocolatier LLC is a leading North American premium chocolate manufacturer grounded in innovation, quality, and sustainability. We are a fast-growing, vertically integrated food manufacturing company operating across branded CPG and contract manufacturing. In the past year, we have scaled from one manufacturing facility to two, expanded our brand portfolio, and invested heavily in new capacity, innovation, and infrastructure.

Our footprint includes Delta, British Columbia: Our 60,000 sq ft, fully automated, SQF Level 3 operational flagship, and Rockwall, Texas: Our new 225,000 sq ft manufacturing and warehouse complex, scheduled to open in 2027.

We are now at the stage where systems, discipline, and repeatability matter as much as growth. We are building an enterprise-grade operations platform designed to scale—not a collection of plants dependent on heroics. We foster a culture of accountability where professionals thrive in structured environments and uphold rigorous standards.

Company Overview:

Truly Indulgent Low in Sugar Always Organic

The Role:

The VP, Manufacturing & Operations reports directly to the President and leads plant operations at both of ChocXO’s manufacturing facilities: Delta, British Columbia and Rockwall, Texas. The Plant Managers at each location report directly to this role. The VP is the senior leader accountable for end-to-end operational performance across both sites, including manufacturing execution, food safety leadership, QA capability, OT systems oversight, and operational excellence.

This is a hands-on, high-accountability leadership role. It requires deep manufacturing judgment, disciplined execution, and the confidence to stop production, reset standards, and enforce compliance when required.

Key Responsibilities

Multi-Plant Leadership

Directly lead, develop, and hold accountable the Plant Managers for Delta, BC and Rockwall, TX
Establish consistent expectations, KPIs, and operating cadence across all sites
Ensure alignment between plant-level execution and enterprise standards
Be visibly present in plants — especially during audits, trials, startups, and corrective actions

Operational Technology (OT) & Systems

Provide leadership and oversight for OT systems supporting manufacturing operations

o production monitoring

o process controls

o data integrity

o system discipline

Ensure OT systems support repeatability, visibility, and accountability, not workarounds
Partner with engineering and IT, but own operational effectiveness of systems on the floor

Food Safety, Quality & Audit Readiness

Provide senior leadership on food safety expectations and audit readiness
Set the standard for:

o regulatory compliance

o customer audits

o third-party food safety certifications

Build and lead a strong, credible QA organization
Ensure quality systems are proactive, documented, and enforced — not reactive or cosmetic
Personally set the tone that food safety and quality are non-negotiable

Process Discipline & Validation

Establish and enforce standardized operating procedures (SOPs)
Own process validation, trial approval, and GO / NO-GO decision gates
Eliminate reliance on undocumented adjustments, heroics, or tribal knowledge
Ensure processes run within defined parameters, with normal staffing, on repeat days

Inventory, Scrap & Loss Control

Own accountability for scrap, rework, obsolete inventory, and yield loss
Implement root-cause analysis and corrective action discipline
Drive early-warning indicators and corrective action — not post-event explanations
Embed cost awareness without compromising safety or quality

Training, Safety & Accountability Culture

Build structured training systems for operators, supervisors, and plant leadership
Lead facility safety as a core operational priority
Establish and enforce an accountability culture:

o clear expectations

o clear consequences

o consistent follow-through

Partner with HR, but retain operational authority and standards

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

Drive operational excellence across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale
Standardize best practices across plants
Lead continuous improvement initiatives grounded in data and discipline
Ensure improvements are institutionalized, not personality-dependent

AI, Automation & Digital Efficiency

Use AI and advanced analytics to drive efficiency, throughput, and yield improvement across manufacturing and warehouse operations
Identify, evaluate, and deploy practical AI tools (e.g., predictive maintenance, demand and production scheduling, quality and vision inspection, downtime and scrap analysis)
Leverage AI-enabled insights from OT and ERP data to make faster, fact-based decisions and catch issues before they become losses
Build team capability and comfort with AI tools, ensuring adoption is disciplined, documented, and compliant with food safety and data integrity requirements

What Success Looks Like

Plant Managers are strong, accountable leaders — not firefighters
Food safety audits are predictable, calm, and well-prepared
QA is respected, not overridden
OT systems provide clarity and control, not noise
Scrap, rework, and operational “surprises” trend down materially
Operations run consistently across plants and shifts
The President is not required to intervene in day-to-day operations
AI and automation tools are delivering measurable gains in efficiency, yield, and uptime

Required Experience & Profile

Experience

15+ years in food manufacturing operations
Proven multi-plant leadership experience
Deep, practical expertise in:

o food safety systems

o quality assurance

o audit management

o allergen control

o sanitation validation

o process control

Experience scaling operations in fast-growth environments
Sufficient, hands-on experience applying AI, automation, and data analytics in a manufacturing environment to drive measurable efficiency gains
Cross-border operations experience (U.S./Canada) strongly preferred

Leadership Attributes

Exceptionally detail-oriented
Disciplined, methodical, and structured
Calm, firm, and decisive
Comfortable holding leaders accountable
Respected on the plant floor — not theatrical, not passive
Strong presence without ego
Comfortable saying “no” to bad ideas, shortcuts, or pressure

What We Are Not Looking For

“Idea-first” operators without execution depth
Leaders who normalize exceptions and workarounds
Consultants masquerading as operators
People who rely on heroics instead of systems
Anyone uncomfortable enforcing standards or stopping production

Location & Travel

Based at Rockwall, TX (DFW area). This is a fully on-site role, not remote, because presence matters
Regular travel between the Rockwall and Delta plants is required, including during audits, trials, startups, and corrective actions
Must be able to travel between the U.S. and Canada

Why This Role Matters

This role is central to building a durable, scalable manufacturing platform.

The right leader will:

Bring order to complexity
Reduce operational risk
Strengthen food safety and quality credibility
Enable profitable, disciplined growth

If you are a serious food manufacturing operations leader who believes strong systems beat heroics, we want to talk.

ChocXO Chocolatier LLC is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Applicants who require accommodation during the application or hiring process will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable laws.