Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Nicholas Watson

Newark,OH

Summary

Operations & People Leader with 15+ years of experience driving profitability, efficiency, and employee engagement across large-scale manufacturing and agricultural operations. Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, optimizing production systems, and executing multi-million-dollar capital projects. Adept at fostering a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and sustainable growth.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Division General Manager, Ohio Shell Egg Operations

Versova Management Coop
Croton, USA
05.2023 - Current
  • Lead operations across all divisions with 500 employees and a $150M budget, ensuring profitability and efficiency.
  • Delivered 5% YoY increase in operating profit through cost optimization and CAPEX project execution.
  • Boosted production efficiency by 5% Rate of Lay improvement while maintaining animal welfare and quality standards.
  • Increased processing throughput from 520 CPH to 550 CPH and enhanced labor productivity from 18 to 22 cases per man-hour.
  • Achieved top performance on the internal Safety Metric Scorecard for two consecutive years through improved health and safety protocols.
  • Designed employee development and retention programs, driving a 45% improvement in staff retention.

Business Unit Leader

Versova Management Coop
09.2016 - 05.2023
  • Oversaw operations for a site housing 2.2M laying hens, producing 160K dozen eggs daily.
  • Developed sustainable labor models that reduced labor costs and improved workforce efficiency.
  • Delivered the company’s first and second 100% Level 3 SQF audits.
  • Championed continuous improvement by integrating Lean and TPM tools, driving operational excellence and associate development.
  • Maintained 100% USDA compliance on egg quality and plant sanitation standards.

Operations Manager, Equal Sweetener Plant

Merisant Company
Manteno, USA
09.2015 - 09.2016
  • Company Overview: Plant Closure
  • Directed operations for a 250K sq. ft. facility with 8 production lines and 120 employees.
  • Exceeded KPIs across service, quality, cost, and people metrics while ensuring OSHA, FDA, and HACCP compliance.
  • Led Lean transformation initiatives, deploying Kaizen, 5S, SMED, and Standard Work tools to improve productivity and reduce waste.
  • Fostered a culture of continuous improvement, increasing employee engagement and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Plant Closure

Operations Manager, Morningstar Farms Plant

Kellogg’s Frozen Foods
Zanesville, USA
01.2012 - 09.2015
  • Managed production, labor relations, food safety, and talent development for a high-volume plant.
  • Drove operational excellence through strict adherence to SOPs, SOCs, and compliance guidelines.
  • Served as Operations Launch Champion, leading R&D and engineering initiatives for new products.

Project Homerun Startup Manager

Kellogg’s Frozen Foods
06.2014 - 07.2015
  • Led a $4.2M capital project to install a new production line, achieving a vertical startup at 90% of target capacity in the first week.
  • Delivered project 22% under budget and developed comprehensive operations, maintenance, and training plans.
  • Collaborated with global engineering to align on KPIs and ensure seamless technology transfer.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Manufacturing

Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
01.2003

Skills

  • Strategic Operations Leadership
  • P&L & Budget Management
  • Lean Manufacturing
  • TPM Methodologies
  • Workforce Development
  • Retention
  • Process Optimization
  • Throughput Improvement
  • Quality Assurance
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Capital Project Management
  • SQF Practitioner
  • HACCP Certified
  • Six Sigma Black Belt Training

Certification

  • SQF Practitioner
  • HACCP Certified
  • Black Belt Six Sigma Training

Timeline

Division General Manager, Ohio Shell Egg Operations

Versova Management Coop
05.2023 - Current

Business Unit Leader

Versova Management Coop
09.2016 - 05.2023

Operations Manager, Equal Sweetener Plant

Merisant Company
09.2015 - 09.2016

Project Homerun Startup Manager

Kellogg’s Frozen Foods
06.2014 - 07.2015

Operations Manager, Morningstar Farms Plant

Kellogg’s Frozen Foods
01.2012 - 09.2015

Bachelor of Science - Manufacturing

Eastern Michigan University

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