Sr. Director of Operations - Multi-site - Gables Search Group

The Sr. Director of Operations oversees all aspects of production and supply and provides leadership to the plant managers across multiple sites. Overall responsibility for Production, Maintenance, Scheduling, Sanitation, and Warehouse Operations as well as associated responsibilities in Safety, Quality Assurance, Human Resources, and other related areas. We are looking for someone with a baked goods food manufacturing background.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Formulates and implements manufacturing programs to maintain and improve the competitive position and profitability of the operations.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of manufacturing plants to ensure safety, quality, cost, efficiency and people standards are consistently met.
• Promote and encourage the development of people to ensure leadership continuity.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, positive engagement and empowerment of employees.
• Develop and execute on continues improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives with focus on on-time delivery, labor productivity, cost reduction and overall margin improvement.
• Drives a strong and healthy safety culture that is compliant with regulations and engages employees to effectively decrease injury rate.
• Ensure all locations comply with environmental, health and safety regulations.
• Develop, monitor, and report on operating costs relative to budget. Communicate circumstances that may cause significant budget overruns and identify ways to lesson impact on overall budget.
• Partner with Plant Managers and Human Resources to continually evaluate opportunities to enhance and improve teamwork, while developing leaders at all levels.
• Identify, monitor, and improve key performance indicators within span of control.
• Rapidly communicate to Vice President of Operations any significant challenges or failures that may pose a risk to the business.
• Leads the development and implementation of TPM strategies that maximize operational effectiveness/performance while partnering with other divisions to develop actionable plans to improve overall operational effectiveness.
• Develop and implement strategies to drive continuous improvement in safety, productivity, product quality, customer service, quality of work life, and lowers manufacturing costs.
• Responsible for the financial results of plant operations by preparing annual manufacturing budget, analyzing costs of plant improvements and leading cost improvement initiatives.
• Provide leadership to the product planning and materials activities of the locations to ensure that the inventory levels are efficient to maximize cashflow while minimizing cost.
• Support Warehouse and Distribution activities to assure 100% on-time delivery of goods to our customers.
• Indirect leadership of the Quality Assurance activities of the location to ensure product integrity while maintaining Good Manufacturing Practices and eliminating foreign material.
• Ensures site compliance with regulatory agencies.
• Verifies GMPs and Safety standards are maintained at all times and take action and/or follow-up when deficiencies are noted.
• Provide strategic guidance to the organizations through leadership of strategic planning sessions.
• Participates in new product development and planning by researching the cost and ability to produce the product.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Job Requirements:

Education/Certifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Food Science, or other related field.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a production facility, with a minimum of 5 years leading a facility, preferably in food baking manufacturing. Multi-site leadership experience preferred.
• Experience with SAP is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficient use of a computer, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote), and other related applications or software.
• SQF-Working knowledge of and implementation/maintenance of SQF Level III Certification in a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent technical knowledge of equipment, products, and processes within baking operations.
• Strong background in HACCP, safety, GMP’s, and AIB.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and possess the ability to develop interdepartmental relationships.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills along with coaching skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of associates and customers ranging from entry level to executive level positions.
• Ability to work with multiple departments including but not limited to Cost Accounting, Purchasing, R & D, Supply Chain, HR, EH&S, Quality Assurance, and Information Services.