Operations Manager – Food Manufacturing

Operations Manager – Food Manufacturing

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, emphasis in dairy sciences preferred.
• A minimum of 7 years hands-on experience in a process-manufacturing environment managing a team/department at a high level.
• Dairy food manufacturing experience preferred, specifically cheese, aseptic, extended shelf-life and/or culture dairy food manufacturing.
• Thorough understanding of regulatory laws and responsibilities as they pertain to Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Experience using Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Proficient understanding of budgeting and cost control.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP applications, SAP preferred.
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Skill in organization and prioritization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs; ability to lead others through change.
• Strong team player and leader with the ability to work across multiple functions and disciplines.
• Ability to select, mentor, coach, train/develop, engage and retain a team of employees.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the plant in all areas of responsibility including and not limited to health & safety, environmental controls, receiving, blending/batching, processing, filling, packaging, product quality, food safety, maintenance and storage/distribution.
• Support plant leadership in overseeing the overall activities of the manufacturing facilities of the plant to ensure customer orders are planned, scheduled, produced and shipped safely at the lowest landed cost and standards to meet the customers’ requirements and service level agreements while maintaining corporate established quality standards.
• Analyze plant operations and key metrics to maintain operational efficiencies within each department.
• Is responsible for expense management and control, including shrink, labor and overhead costs. Meet and exceed plant P&L objectives with a continuous emphasis on efficiency improvement and loss minimization.
• Utilize continuous improvement techniques and a Management Operating Structure (MOS) to identify root cause, risk mitigation and efficiency improvements.
• Collect and report reliable information to measure the performance of the plant and of the various plant departments as required.
• Is responsible for ensuring customer needs are satisfied through scheduling processes which ensure that products are manufactured, loaded, and shipped to our customers in support of our demand planning schedules and forecasts. Lead product transitions, testing, validation and commissioning in support of new volume and strategic customer projects.
• Ensures that appropriate SOPs are developed, executed and maintained for all aspects of our business.
• Is responsible for meeting all regulatory requirements and guidelines.
• Assists Technical Support staff on resolution of customer complaints and issues of product quality.
• Provides a high degree of leadership and management of employees directly or through management team to ensure effective selection, retention, development, training, disciplinary action and performance management. If a collective bargaining agreement exists, may participate in negotiations, grievances or other contract related activities and discussions.
• Cooperates in a cross-functional manner as a change agent with all departments within the Company and strategic projects, capital investments and initiatives.
• Engages in the typical responsibilities of a manager requiring communication, planning, mentoring, training, evaluating, prioritizing, organizing, integrating and delegating.
• Lead the Saputo way by actively applying our Saputo Values.
• Actively lead by example and comply Saputo Code of Ethics as a condition of employment. This includes leading accountability and support of our established policies, standards and specifications.
• Work together professionally in a team environment with coworkers and other department personnel.
• Support other departments as needed and perform other duties as required by management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Dairy food manufacturing experience preferred, specifically cheese, aseptic, extended shelf-life and/or culture dairy food manufacturing.
• Labor Relations, Occupational Health & Safety, and Workers Compensation knowledge preferred.