Director Of Plant Operations

Job Summary

At Richelieu Foods we are making Great Food from Great People. We are looking for an experienced Director of Plant Operations who is comfortable driving transformation while reinforcing a culture of support and development. The Director of Plant Operations will report directly to the VP of Manufacturing Operations with significant exposure to the Richelieu Senior Leadership Team.

The Director of Plant Operations will lead the manufacturing operations for the facility, producing quality products in a people and food-safe manner, at or below budgeted cost. The position will be responsible for ensuring plant operations follow all regulatory, quality and safety standards. This role will be responsible for driving continuous improvement initiatives, striving to deliver zero loss and 100% employee engagement in support of Richelieu’s integrated manufacturing strategy.

Essential Functions

• Identify manufacturing cost drivers and proactively adjust manpower and department expenses to achieve budget commitments.
• Create and efficiently manage four key divisions of operations: 1) Manufacturing 2) Maintenance 3) Warehouse and 4) Sanitation. Understand the financial impacts of various sourcing, labor, materials and overhead strategies on the business and act accordingly to maximize returns.
• Establish and communicate clear metric targets and results. Develop and execute plans that drive improved operational performance.
• Participate in the development of the strategic plan for the factory including the development of the annual operating budget and quarterly forecasts.
• Ensure plant meets OSHA requirements and continually improve safety record by addressing both physical safety issues as well as employee safety attitudes. Cultivate a safety culture. Ensure compliance with all food regulatory requirements and adherence to food safety and GMP's.
• Create a high-performance operations team by recruiting and developing teams with an appropriate mix of experience, capabilities, and skills to consistently meet company goals and departmental initiatives in the most cost-effective manner. Ensure effective succession planning for all pivotal positions.
• Maintain superior scores on all SQF or other third-party audits (customer driven).
• Manage technology and process improvement projects to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations function.
• Inspire the team and be the voice of the company’s core values, to motivate and capture personal commitment in creating a pathway to both their individual and our collective long-term success and growth.
• Daily focus on yields with a particular focus on raw and pack materials. Actively participate in the KPI calls to report on results and improvement plans.
• Teach and deploy lean six-sigma tools such as daily direction setting, 5S, equipment center lining, defect handling and root cause failure analysis that drive towards zero loss and 100% employee engagement.
• Develop and deliver the annual operating plan (AOP). Manage budget and cost controls considering changes in demand (volume), business seasonality and required service levels.
• Support new projects for the business, engaging suppliers to help the team understand any costs and design implication. Ability to engage and collaborate cross-functionally to facilitate commercialization of new products and partnering closely with the leadership team to support the broader activities and initiatives.
• Develop and execute job training programs that build the capability of the factory and leadership team members, including skill-based pay for the factory team and succession planning for the leadership team.
• Ensure all products meet product specifications and consumer / customer complaints are fully investigated and addressed.
• Develop a strong discipline of role clarity and hold self and team members accountable for performance and collaboration with the whole enterprise establishing and maintaining an inclusive and diverse culture that provides a positive employee experience and ensuring proactive performance management based on feedback, coaching and mentoring.
• Participate in the development, implementation & evaluation of business goals that deliver strategic business objectives.
• Plan, organize and direct the manufacturing operations ensuring the plant meets the daily production schedule, producing products that meet or exceed established standards.
• Manage/execute and deliver on KPI's to include (but not limited to): Safety, Quality, People, Service, and Cost

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Excellent Team-building skills and possess the ability to gain consensus and deliver results with and through people.
• Demonstrated leadership ability with highly effective interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to resolve conflicting interests and obtain cooperation.
• Strong Food and Safety knowledge including legal compliance of federal, state and local food and safety laws and regulations.
• Superior analytical skills to anticipate manufacturing requirements and develop contingency plans that eliminate or reduce disruption to operations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (written and verbal) and the ability to interact with all levels of the organization.
• Strong time management and organizational skills with the ability to deliver to deadlines with strong follow-up skills, problem resolution, and strategic thinking.
• Ability to provide clear direction.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to respond to changing situations despite deadlines and pressure.

Education/Certification

• Formal training in all aspects of SQF, Food Safety & Quality, FDA’s FSMA program, including Food Safety, Good Manufacturing Practices, Food Plant Sanitation, FDA Regulations and AIB.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, or related field

Experience

• Physical Demands
• Postural demands include frequent sitting, standing, walking, bending and stooping.
• 10+ years of progressive operations experience in a high volume, high growth, food manufacturing environment
• 5+ years of management experience

Lifting demands would include rarely lifting at minimum 5 pounds to waist, to shoulder, overhead, carry up to 25 feet and carry up stairs