Ice Cream Plant Manager

Required Skills & Experience

Education and Experience:

• College Degree and or equivalent experience preferable in engineering, business, food science or related field
• 5-7 years operational and management experience in food production environment
• At least 4 years’ experience in Ice Cream and Dairy manufacturing
• 4+ years of experience as a Manager including experience managing manager-level direct reports
• Familiar with how basic plant equipment functions (pumps, hydraulics, electricity, boiler, compressors, chillers etc.)
• Planning, scheduling and project management experience necessary
• Food Technology

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to prioritize plant operations in light of multiple priorities and conflicting demands.
• Fundamental understanding of key financial and manufacturing performance metrics
• Self-starter, strong drive, highly motivated to make change and bring about fact driven decisions.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Must be well-organized and able to coordinate multiple tasks and requests.
• Proven track record in assessing the effectiveness/ROI of operational programs
• Ability to create actionable strategies for operations and partner functions. Able to create and lead cross functional teams (initiating action, facilitation, planning and organizing, conflict management, etc.).
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; ability to articulate and present vision or concepts that educate and influence thinking. Strong interpersonal skills, ability to interact effectively with employees at all levels.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven track record of being able to collaborate with key stakeholders across functions and levels.
• Ability to operate in a complex, rapidly changing environment while adhering to tight schedules and budgets.
• Demonstrated project management skills and proven ability to balance multiple projects in varying degrees of implementation.
• Excellent verbal, written, people, and diplomacy skills are required.
• Previous experience successfully introducing and implementing processes, best practices and operational change initiatives that significantly enhanced capabilities.
• Business development and sales skills to effectively grow and manage the Co-Pack business.

People Management:

• Responsible for providing direct reports with timely, candid and constructive performance feedback; developing associates to their fullest potential and provide challenging opportunities that enhance associate career growth.
• Developing the appropriate talent pool to ensure adequate bench strength and succession planning; recognizing and rewarding associates for accomplishments.
• Incumbent also holds his direct reports accountable for performing the same functions and activities with their direct reports if applicable.
• Responsible for growing associate engagement within the team as measured by regular engagement surveys.

Computer/Technical:

• Ability to use all Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel, & PowerPoint including email
• Previous experience with Manufacturing Scheduling/Planning systems preferred
• Previous experience with SAGE and/or other Accounting/production planning and or ERP/MRP systems.

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

Ice Cream or Yogurt Plant Management Experience

Job Description

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Responsible for providing both strategic and operational leadership for a non-union production facility producing ice cream, frozen yogurt and other frozen novelties for sale in company owned convenience stores, wholesale accounts (for example Kroger, Walmart, Meijer, Fresh Market, etc.) and Co-pack/co-manufacturing working with Ice Cream CPG companies as a third-party ice cream manufacturer. This position reports to the COO and has a team of roughly 50 associates covering Production, Sanitation, Quality, Plant Maintenance and Product Development. This role will support the execution of the operational and tactical business plans by working directly with Plant Engineering, Quality Assurance, R&D, Warehouse and Distribution, the Retail and Wholesale management teams, Ordering, and Accounting employees to ensure that the business objectives are met.

This position is responsible for delivering key business metrics related to safety, quality, service, productivity, cost, and associate development. The responsibilities reflect modern ice cream manufacturing operations, including co-manufacturing relationships, FDA ,SQF/FSMA, Quality and Sanitation compliance, and capital improvement initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible and accountable for Ice Cream Manufacturing quality compliance, inventory control, and efficiencies with respect to labor, overhead, packaging and ingredients, operational budgets, and profit and loss statements
• Oversees production, distribution, warehousing including production planning / forecasting and scheduling for Ice Cream Plant
• Create, develop and sustain a “can-do” climate and high levels of frequent communication, cooperation, rewards, training and mutual support among departments
• Demonstrate an adequate understanding of plant machinery; equipment; processing; products, quality, and/or other requisite technical knowledge to engage in overall direction, meaningful conversation across functions, and leadership of managers across the plant.
• Demonstrate DAIRY Culture / DAIRY Leadership and a sense of ethics and responsibility to the plant and its employees on a daily basis, serving as a role model for others
• Oversight on the procurement of raw ingredients and packaging used in the production process.
• Respond effectively and work cross-functionally within the organization.
• Effectively partnership with Human Resources and others regarding associate development and overall engagement.
• Perform in a variety of capacities related to employment decisions throughout the employment life cycle. i.e. hiring, firing, performance evaluation, salary recommendations, associate relations issues as appropriate etc.
• Work with COO to understand and manage as appropriate any capital project expenditures and /or the implementation of capital projects in conjunction with Plant Engineering.
• Effectively implement, improve, and reinforce the company’s environmental health and safety programs and product food safety program.
• Has the overall responsibility to direct operational activities to ensure programs, policies and practices are followed to produce safe quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, USDA (where applicable), FSMA, HACCP, SQF, GMP, and company food safety standards.
• Will support the development, implementation, maintenance and ongoing improvement of the SQF, GMPs, etc.
• Partners with sales, business development and client management activities with Co-Pack customers. Responsible for establishing performance metrics and KPIs (i.e. tolling fee) to successfully gain and effectively manage Co-pack relationships balancing the needs of this group of clients against internal UDF needs.