Associate Vice President Corporate Engineering
About The Position
The Associate Vice President of Corporate Engineering develops and optimizes food production processes to improve efficiency, quality, and safety, and leads engineering projects such as installations, upgrades, and equipment maintenance. The role ensures compliance with food safety regulations and industry standards, provides production technical support, trains staff, and maintains process and project documentation. The position develops and manages strategic capital plans and owns delivery of a multi-year capital portfolio valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from business case through commissioning. It is accountable for scope, budget, timelines, and vendor performance, and tracks return on investment while reporting project status and results to senior leadership. A key focus is supporting and optimizing AI-enabled x-ray inspection systems used to detect product defects and foreign materials. The role works with machine vision systems and production data, and collaborates with Operations and Quality to maintain system accuracy, efficiency, and food safety compliance. The position must be based in Chicago, Illinois; Seattle, Washington; or Sussex, Wisconsin, with North American travel expected, primarily to Sussex, Wisconsin, and Blaine, Washington.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, or a related field.
- At least 7 years of experience in a food manufacturing environment.
- Hands-on experience with AI-enabled technologies in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong project management skills.
- Proficiency in CAD software.
- Knowledge of food safety regulations, such as HACCP and FSMA.
- Familiarity with automation and control systems.
- Experience with process improvement methodologies, such as Lean or Six Sigma.
- Familiarity with machine vision systems, data analysis, and continuous improvement of AI algorithms in real-time production settings.
Responsibilities
- Develop and optimize food production processes to improve efficiency, quality, and safety.
- Lead and manage engineering projects, including new installations, upgrades, and equipment maintenance.
- Ensure processes comply with food safety regulations and industry standards.
- Identify improvement opportunities and implement solutions that increase productivity and reduce waste.
- Provide technical support and troubleshoot production equipment and processes.
- Train staff on new processes, equipment, and best practices for consistent, safe operations.
- Maintain accurate documentation of processes, procedures, and project plans.
- Develop and manage strategic capital plans, identify capital investment opportunities, budget, and align plans with corporate goals.
- Own delivery of a multi-year capital portfolio valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from business case through commissioning.
- Manage project scope, budgets, timelines, and vendor performance; track return on investment and report project status and results to senior leadership.
- Support and optimize AI-enabled x-ray inspection systems used to detect product defects and foreign materials.
- Work with machine vision systems and data analysis to continuously improve AI algorithms in real-time production settings.
- Collaborate with Operations and Quality teams to ensure system accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with food safety standards.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
