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At Ferrara, Ferrero, Fox’s Burton’s, and The Fine Biscuits Company, we’re loved by people of all generations for the joy we bring—and that joy is crafted by our people. Join us and explore a whole world to discover, where your passion will find its place.

Today, Ferrara is the #1 sugar confectioner in the U.S, with global sales in more than 40 countries. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of over 9,000 employees around the world who deliver and create hundreds of iconic and beloved products.

In the U.S., more than 67 million households annually enjoy our popular brands like NERDS®, Brach’s®, Jelly Belly®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, and Trolli®.  In Brazil, Dori has become a household name with snacking products that include brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100. And, in France, Carambar & Co have earned generations of loyal customers through the timeless appeal of iconic candy and chocolate brands such as Carambar, Lutti, Krema, Poulain, Vichy and Terry’s. A privately held company, Ferrara Group is headquartered in Chicago. Ferrara boasts a network of over 30 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities.

Learn more at www.ferrara.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara-.

VP, Manufacturing - North America

Work Location: ​Chicago​

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

As VP, Manufacturing – North America, you will lead a network of eight plants across the U.S. and Mexico and guide a 3,000+ member workforce toward a new era of world class performance, innovation, and cultural alignment. You will drive safety, quality, cost, service, and innovation—while working to deliver manufacturing excellence, elevating operational standards—and optimize a growing and ambitious company. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary manufacturing leader to cultivate a next-generation leadership pipeline.

 

This position reports to the Chief Manufacturing Officer.

 

The role is based at our headquarters in Chicago, Illinois and will require 40-60% travel.

Ways you will make a difference

Following are examples but not fully representative of the responsibilities and areas of impact:

 

Safety

  • Drive year-over-year reductions in safety incidents and severity
  • Partner with the Site Directors and VP of EHS to of a multi-year safety capital investment plan to improve conditions across all facilities

 

Quality

  • Ensure every plant consistently reduces the absolute number of consumer complaints and complaints per million units
  • Implement rigorous process checks across all shifts to ensure compliance with specifications
  • Partner with Quality, R&D, and Marketing to optimize products, specifications, and processes

 

Cost

  • Champion Lean/Six Sigma to build and execute plant-level strategic improvement plans
  • Improve OEE
  • Deliver annual productivity and hard-dollar savings to offset inflation
  • Balance wage pressures with workforce capability, engagement, and retention
  • Partner with Site Directors and functional VP’s and appropriate Sr. Directors to shape and execute the Strategic Capital Plan
  • Meet fixed and variable cost targets across the network

 

Service

  • Ensure product availability delivering attainment, adherence and achievement of OTIF (On Time In Full) goals
  • Partner with Supply Planning to optimize run lengths, changeovers, and inventory levels

 

Innovation

  • Support a fast-paced innovation pipeline while managing risk and execution feasibility
  • Evaluate and implement cutting-edge technologies and new manufacturing methods

 

Employee Engagement & Leadership

  • Build a high-performing work environment in both union and non-union facilities
  • Develop and mentor a world-class leadership team that grows talent for the broader organization
  • Foster a culture rooted in continuous improvement, agility, and accountability

Skills that will make you successful

  • Visionary leadership with the ability to inspire and mobilize large, diverse teams
  • Deep expertise in TPM, Lean, Six Sigma, and large-scale manufacturing transformation
  • Exceptional strategic thinking, planning, and decision-making ability
  • Strong financial and operational acumen with the ability to manage large budgets
  • Highly skilled in influencing across functions and driving alignment with executive peers
  • Adept at managing complexity, ambiguity, and high-growth environments
  • Excellent communicator with strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities
  • Ability to build trust, foster engagement, and create a culture of continuous improvement

Experiences that will support your success

  • 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in consumer food manufacturing or fast-moving consumer goods
  • Strong track record leading large, multi-site manufacturing networks, including international facilities (e.g., Mexico, Canada)
  • Demonstrated success in Lean/Six Sigma transformation with sustainable cultural and operational results
  • Experience managing both union and non-union environments
  • Proven background in post-merger or acquisition integration within manufacturing operations
  • Experience developing and delivering multi-year capital strategies and network design plans
  • Hands-on leadership approach with the ability to connect deeply with plant and frontline teams
  • Proven ability to develop talent, build high-performing teams, and manage organizational change
  • Strong capability with budget development, cost management, and performance metrics
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field required
  • Advanced degree (MBA or Master’s in Engineering or related discipline) strongly preferred

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we’re proud to support our employees by providing comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO).  Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $211,875 - 296,625 annually.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.


Nearest Major Market: Chicago

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