VP of Operations - Gary A Thompson

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Summary: This position creates and executes the vision, strategy, and tactical plans needed to achieve
Operations, Maintenance, and Safety excellence. Provide needed visible and actionable leadership to
ensure that finished goods are timely produced to specifications, while meeting food safety and cost
targets. Responsible for capital project oversight and creating a continuous improvement framework.
Measures and ensures key goals and objectives are achieved related to safety, maintenance programs,
food safety and compliance, cost savings, margin improvement, management of working capital, and
growth.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Collaborate with executives, senior staff, and General Managers to build the culture and values
required for the business while assisting in the development and formulation of long and short-range
planning, policies, programs, and objectives. Creates a culture of operational excellence and
continuous improvement through human capital principles, implementation of work standards, and
development of feedback mechanisms using key metrics to meet annual margin and EBITDA plan.
• Oversees capital expenditures and the development of capital improvement projects. Approves
project scope and objectives, commissioning, and approval of the new/improved capability. Reports
Profit and Loss statements as appropriate to senior leadership. Prepare major equipment budgets and
project plans including the creation, design, and execution of the plans for installation of new
equipment and major expansions or repairs for existing equipment or facilities.
• Serve as the primary champion of all health and safety efforts for all employees and facilities.
Ensure a safety compliant environment and a properly trained workforce. Oversee regulatory
compliance programs such as OSHA, EPA, PSM & RMP. Monitor effectiveness of all preventative
and predictive maintenance programs. Ensure the availability of timely and accurate maintenance of
adequate records and drawings as required.
• Drives operational efficiency. Partners with other functional areas to drive profitability, innovation
and identify cost savings initiatives. Implements improved processes and methods to generate higher
ROI and workflow optimization. Provides General Managers with the tools, information, analysis,
and recommendations to improve operational effectiveness metrics. Optimizes key operational
processes. Forecasts margins and demand, as well as scheduling of resources to reduce costs through
best practices and lean manufacturing. Works with General Managers, Maintenance Engineer, and
Transportation Director to set goals and priorities to assure profitability.
• As a primary leader of the Engineering Team, advocate and ensure the adherence to a strategic and
tactical maintenance plan, maintenance safety program and management of the repair and
maintenance budget for the company. Ensure advocacy for production efforts by providing technical
support to plant management teams on maintenance strategies, project work, equipment issues, and
budget expense. Maintain knowledge of activities related to the planning and execution of
maintenance, installation, and/or repair of all physical property, including refrigeration systems,
wastewater operations, mechanical systems, and buildings.