Job Summary
IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, and health and biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products.
Food Ingredients: Innovating improved nutritional profiles, better taste and texture, and greater cost efficiency to meet the needs of global food and beverage manufacturers.
The Unit Operations Leader role is based in Memphis, Tennessee (onsite role). Be part of a collaborative, results-driven, and growth-oriented team where together we can achieve meaningful impact and operational excellence.
Your potential is our inspiration!
Where You’ll Make a Difference
- Lead daily manufacturing operations for assigned production unit(s), ensuring alignment with safety, quality, cost, and production volume targets
- Develop and implement strategies to improve operational performance, including cost efficiency, productivity, and continuous improvement outcomes
- Drive a strong safety culture by ensuring compliance with safety, health, environmental, and Process Safety Management standards
- Apply Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Root Cause Failure Analysis methodologies to identify trends, solve problems, and eliminate process inefficiencies
- Partner with site leadership and supply chain teams to coordinate production schedules and align with customer demand
- Manage operating budgets, including planning, tracking, and reporting of fixed and variable costs
- Lead performance management processes, including goal setting, performance evaluation, coaching, and development of team members
- Establish clear priorities, reinforce accountability, and maintain operational discipline across the production unit
- Ensure compliance with all food safety and quality standards, including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, Good Manufacturing Practices, sanitation, and pest control programs
What Makes You the Right Fit
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, or related technical discipline) or equivalent experience
- Approximately eight or more years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
- Experience managing budgets and understanding fixed and variable cost structures
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, equipment utilization, and operational systems
- Demonstrated experience leading safety programs, audits, and promoting safe work behaviors
- Experience with Process Safety Management and continuous improvement practices
- Experience using Root Cause Failure Analysis or similar structured problem-solving methodologies
- Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across cross-functional teams
How Would You Stand Out?
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
- Experience leading Lean Manufacturing initiatives at scale
- Proven success in driving culture transformation focused on safety, engagement, and accountability
Why Choose Us?
- Opportunity to lead high-impact manufacturing operations in a large production facility
- Collaborative, inclusive team environment focused on continuous improvement
- Access to ongoing professional development and technical training
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
- Strong commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation
- Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on products used around the world
For your awareness, IFF has announced its intention to sell its Food Ingredients Business to CVC Capital Partners. The sale is currently expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
The Food Ingredient business unit will remain part of IFF until close and, at such time, will transition to CVC Capital Partners. By applying for this position, candidates acknowledge awareness that the role is part of the Food Ingredient business unit and has been identified to transition to CVC Capital Partners.
We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.
Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience
- Approximately eight or more years of experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment
- Experience managing budgets and understanding cost structures
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and operational systems
- Demonstrated experience leading safety programs and audits
- Experience with Process Safety Management and continuous improvement
- Experience using Root Cause Failure Analysis
- Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills
IFF Family of Companies Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about IFF Family of Companies and has not been reviewed or approved by IFF Family of Companies.
-
Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive in many roles and locations, and compensation is often described as good.
-
Parental & Family Support — A global minimum of 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all new parents is in place. This policy is positioned as a notable component of the overall package.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Core offerings include paid time off, sick days, holidays, and sabbatical leave. Flexible scheduling options such as compressed workweeks and hybrid/remote arrangements are available where feasible.
IFF Family of Companies Insights
What We Do
Meet IFF: We boldly bring together science and creativity to create what the world needs. An industry leader in food, beverage, health and biosciences, we create essential solutions – from global icons to unexpected innovations and experiences. Equal parts outspoken and analytical, our international collective of thinkers working with customers to bring scents, tastes, experiences, ingredients and solutions for products people crave. With 24,000 employees across 65 countries, more than 110 manufacturing facilities, 100 R&D centers, and 33,000 customers across the world, we’re poised to make a difference on an unprecedented scale. Without our boundary-pushing passion and end-to-end expertise, the future wouldn’t be the same. Visit us at www.iff.com to learn more about how our talented people and new technology are challenging the expected, championing creators and doing more good for people and planet. Explore what sets us apart.
