Sr Manager, Operations & Distribution

Schwan’s Company, a U.S. affiliate of the global lifestyle company, CJ CheilJedang Corporation, is a leading U.S. manufacturer and marketer of quality foods offered through retail-grocery and food-service channels. Our many popular brands include Red Baron®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Villa Prima™ and Freschetta® pizza; Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards® desserts; and Pagoda® and Bibigo Asian-style snacks. Schwan’s is a place for people with an appetite for more. To learn about joining a team where you can belong, contribute, and thrive, visit www.schwanscompany.com.

Come be part of one of the biggest manufacturing expansion projects underway in the United States! We are building brand new, highly automated manufacturing facilities unlike any other in our industry.

The Senior Manager, Operations & Distribution is responsible for the execution of a multi-million dollar cold-storage distribution center expansion in Salina, Kansas. You will also lead ongoing productivity and continuous improvement initiatives within the supply chain network. Position serves as liaison between manufacturing operations and leadership to ensure successful transfer of product from production to the new distribution center.

Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership and direction to implement standardization and continuous improvement projects across the supply chain; ensuring consistent best practices are in place ultimately driving excellence in execution for customer service and costs.
• Manufacturing liaison for product movement from campus manufacturing sites, into distribution center.
• Provide network optimization project management for the supply chain network.
• Partner closely with distribution and manufacturing leadership exercising business process management techniques.
• Provides leadership, direction and accountability for expansion activities, and campus impacts of distribution center project through 2025, to ensure successful and on-budget completion.
• Creates baseline performance standards for future-state facility operations.
• Manage partnerships of 3rd party engineering, equipment and capital vendors
• Main distribution and operational point of contact for internal cross-functional expansion teams such as Engineering, Manufacturing, EHS, Compliance, HR etc. Liaison across functions to bring visibility to current operations and roadblocks to help influence decision making.

What we need from you:

Education: Bachelor’s degree required

Years of Related Experience: 8+ years related experience; experience working in cold storage and/or distribution facilities, manufacturing operations or engineering preferred

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong negotiation and influential skills
• Strong communication (both written and verbal), analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Comprehensive financial acumen and P&L management
• Must be an effective coach and mentor
• Experience in leading distribution centers and operations as well as understanding and/or experience in manufacturing
• Understanding of supply chain operations and network optimization preferred
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Experience in engineering or construction management preferred
• Proven project management skills and experience handling multiple projects and assignments, experience leading expansion and/or greenfield projects
• Valid Driver's License required; travel required
• Proven ability to successfully work cross functionally and leverage organizational resources
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite
• Must be able to prioritize and meet deadlines

The employing subsidiaries of Schwan’s Company are Equal Employment Opportunity Employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, age, race, color, religion, gender, vet status, national origin or other protected class.