Job Information
Dairy Farmers of America Sr. Director, Operations in Kansas City, Kansas
Job Description
General Purpose
Provide direction and leadership to multiple manufacturing facilities. Provide oversight of operations and priorities, which would include financial and business performance including safety, quality, cost, service, delivery, environmental, and regulatory affairs for assigned facilities. Participate in the development and direct the implementation of long- and short-range business strategies and action plans (including but not limited to capital expenditure, operations budget, material procurement, and product pricing) to improve profitability. Provide general leadership with a focus on cultural change and manufacturing excellence and assist senior leadership on special assignments, projects or teams.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Oversee facility/plant operations ensuring they operate effectively, accelerate productivity improvement, meet all Good Manufacturing practices, comply with state and federal regulations, and meet customer/sales/demand requirements while operating within established budgets
Oversee operating budgets for assigned facilities and functions. This includes value analysis of systems, performance, people, procedures, activities, requirements, labor, utilities, product mix, controls, capital needs, and maintenance of assets to achieve profit, quality, service level, value and safety of all products produced
Contribute to the strategic planning efforts and communicate regularly with senior leadership to ensure that the company continues to maximize its short and long-term contributions to overall corporate growth and profitability
Lead operational sustainability to support utilizing resources efficiently and take an active role in ensuring that DFA is contributing to our industry and community social responsibility efforts
Facilitate communication between our customers and our plants to assure we are properly implementing customer requests, response to complaints, and providing excellent customer service
Ensure manufacturing facility leadership teams are staffed appropriately to meet business requirements. Mentor, train, and coach facility leadership team members to understand the organization and their roles within the organization, ensuring that each team member is developing for their next role
Advise management teams in developing and implementing plans, policies and practices that support their respective objectives
Demonstrate leadership through participation in core leadership processes such as development of division and manufacturing facility operating, capital and expense budgets, leader standard work, employee onboarding, succession planning and horizon planning. Drive employee engagement and cultural changes needed to reach best-in class operational performance
Lead the establishment of Key Performance Indicators to measure performance of the division and manufacturing facilities
Manage the health, safety and well-being of team members. Promote employee participation in actively managing EHS through identification and mitigation of hazards. Ensure timely reporting and investigation of EHS events
Ensure facility operations comply with company policies, customer expectations and regulatory requirements
Cultivate an innovative, data driven, team-oriented culture that embraces continuous improvement within an environment of learning
Ensure effective stakeholder collaboration to standardize common functions in areas of quality, safety, maintenance, sustainability, environmental, SAP, Safe Quality Foods (SQF), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), auditing, and abatement activities
The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required
Requirements
Education and Experience
High school diploma or equivalent
Undergraduate degree in related curriculum preferred
12 or more years’ experience in a manufacturing environment, including plant manager experience in food and/or beverage manufacturing with significant financial responsibility; multi plant experience preferred
ESL/Aseptic experience preferred
4 or more years of people management experience that includes leading senior managers and multiple departments
Proven track record of improved results in the areas of quality, safety, service and cost
Experience with continuous improvement methodologies
Certification and/or License – may be required during course of employment
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Strong understanding of the division’s strategy, goals and objectives
Strong insight into the organizational structure and stakeholder needs
Strong technical understanding of food processing and ingredients; strong knowledge of manufacturing process flow and importance to process, of continuous improvement models, and of regulatory laws and responsibilities as it relates to facility standards
Able to develop plans that connect business strategies and the daily operations of the plants
Able to achieve and maintain credibility and respect within the organization
Able to exercise independent judgment and take action
Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks
Strong customer service orientation
Strong project management skills
Strong understanding of budgeting and cost control
Able to lead and inspire people and achieve results through others
Able to build relationships with individuals across the organization
Able to interact and communicate effectively with employees and customers at various levels, including persuasive communication
Able to understand the importance of managing the “people” issues related to the project
Able to demonstrate a high level of comfort in changing environment and ability to adapt approach as the environment and requirements change
Able to handle challenging or conflict situations with tact and professionalism
Logical and efficient, with keen attention to detail
Must be able to read, write and speak English
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Pay Range $175,000-$250000