Area Leader

The J.M. Smucker Co.•New Orleans, LA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Area Leader will be responsible for the leadership and business results of a team of hourly Technicians and Team Leaders. This role ensures the team meets safety, quality, and operational standards, and facilitates team development and skill building through coaching and mentoring team members. The Area Leader champions the department's daily plan, participates in Daily Direction Setting (DDS) meetings, and is accountable for daily operations and team performance across Safety, Quality, Reliability, Cost, and Organizational Capability. This role models the company's Basic Beliefs, Commitment to Each Other, and Emotional Intelligence to build resonance. The Area Leader works with operating teams to address and resolve safety concerns, drives department issues to root cause, and fosters a zero-loss and continuous improvement culture. Responsibilities also include performance management, staffing strategy, developing a "flow to the work" culture, and partnering with the Manager to develop and deliver the Department Master Plan. Essential business information and expectations are clearly communicated to the team. The role involves developing and coaching operational and leadership skills of Team Leaders and Technicians to enhance peak performance using Operational Excellence and High-Performance Organization (HPO) tools and design principles. Additionally, the Area Leader assists in developing and executing key technical and organizational projects, increases Operational Excellence capability, collaborates across all pillars and leadership, and acts as a technical resource for operating teams.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree preferred or 7 years manufacturing experience with people management skills
2 years of manufacturing operational experience

Nice To Haves

An Engineering degree
Experience coaching, developing, and leading others
Project planning experience
Prior experience managing people and/or teams in a high-performance work environment
Food processing, pet or human food manufacturing, and/or engineering experience

Responsibilities

Champions department daily plan and following through on open items needed by the team.
Participates in the department Daily Direction Setting (DDS) meetings.
Accountable for the daily operations and team performance (Safety, Quality, Reliability, Cost, Org. Capability).
Role models our Basic Beliefs, Our Commitment to Each Other, and Emotional Intelligence to build resonance.
Works with operating teams to address safety concerns and assist in resolution.
Responsible for driving department issues to root cause and developing a zero-loss and continuous improvement culture.
Performance management, staffing strategy and developing a “flow to the work” culture.
Partner with Manager in developing and delivering Department Master Plan.
Ensures that essential business information and general expectations are clearly communicated and understood by all members of the team.
Develop and coach operational and leadership skills of Team Leaders and Technicians to enhance peak performance through Operational Excellence and High-Performance Organization (HPO) tools and design principles.
Assist in developing and executing key technical and organizational projects while increasing Operational Excellence capability within the organization.
Responsible to collaborate across all pillars and leadership.
Acts as the technical resource for operating teams.