Director, Engineering

Novolex • Cedar Rapids, IA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Engineering provides leadership and direction for Evergreen’s Engineering functions. This role ensures engineering teams fully use information management systems that connect functional areas and software platforms, increasing standardization and automation across the design, build, sold-order, and problem-solving cycle for all EPE equipment. The Director also leads cross-functional teams to develop, commercialize, and support market-required products and supports Novolex enterprise projects with machinery-related expertise. Key customers include the EPE customer base, Sales/Marketing, Manufacturing, Field Service, and top management. External customers include major dairy and citrus juice processors and distributors. Deliverables include engineering services, technical services, and technical manuals. Engineering work should shift resources from administrative, sold-order, and BOM tasks to engineering activities. Products must meet end-customer or Marketing Lead Team functional requirements; applicable sanitation, safety, and electrical codes; project schedules and budgets; and the profit target for each sales order.

Requirements

• Four-year engineering degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Related manufacturing and supply chain experience is required.
• Proven manufacturing leadership focused on total customer satisfaction is preferred.
• Project management training, such as PMI Basic Skills, is required.
• 10-15 years of successful experience managing and leading multiple project teams of technical professionals.
• 5-10 years of capital machinery design and development experience, including working knowledge of the PMO, 3A standards, and current safety and electrical standards.
• Five years of high-speed processing or packaging machinery development is preferred.
• Experience initiating, negotiating, and managing joint product-development ventures and partnerships with external engineering design firms and equipment developers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current technologies and methods for creating and delivering technical information, including using AI to improve equipment and the customer experience.
• Excellent organizational, verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to achieve results and lead and motivate teams.
• Excellent project management ability.
• Strong knowledge of design, build, and configuration management in the capital equipment build business.
• Experience in working with customers both externally and across departments.
• Good working knowledge of financial models.
• Cost accounting and financial justification, both internal and external, are a must to maximize return for the value we offer.
• Experience in a custom, capital goods manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrate competence to work with minimal supervision and at all levels in the company.
• Consistent track record for achieving results.
• Strong information management (IT) skills
• The position requires the ability to deal with ambiguity, a willingness to travel, and a dedication to putting in the extra effort needed to meet schedule commitments.
• Ability to rapidly change direction, thought process, and focus is a must.

Nice To Haves

• Interfacing with Sales and Marketing to manage the demand for engineered specials
• Reducing the number of engineering non-conformances
• Maintaining the confidence of the factory and the field
• Keeping abreast of advancing technology and using current technology to drive out high dependence on “historical” knowledge within EPE Engineering.
• Responding quickly to changing market needs and delivering the right product at the right time. Clear project proposals and detailed scope are critical. Controlling scope creep and related cultural issues remains difficult. The team must reach the market faster with fewer people and lower project funding.
• Coordinate the sold-order process so Sales, Production Engineering, Manufacturing, and Field Service operate as one cross-functional team rather than separate departments.
• Managing demand for engineering resources
• Identifying and developing leaders within the Engineering Group
• Stage-gating the product improvement process
• Use current and advancing technology to reduce dependence on historical knowledge and help team members adopt improved work-system practices and tools.
• Engage employees in a process-centered approach that reduces non-value-added work, lowers operating costs, improves quality, and establishes clear accountability.
• Maintain a broad, long-term view in an environment often focused on short-term needs.
• Move work from constant crisis mode to a planned and controlled environment.
• Build Engineering’s ability to manage multiple projects of varying complexity.

Responsibilities

• Develop and communicate short- and long-term strategies that help Engineering meet or exceed key performance measures and deliver correctly engineered, reliable equipment on time. Align the strategy with customer, market, and competitive needs. Accelerate product development and commercialization while reducing cost and resource requirements through strong leadership, practical judgment, PMI methodology, and innovative thinking.
• Use engineering resources to reduce product nonconformances and improve product reliability and quality, supporting customer satisfaction and lower warranty expense.
• Support all Evergreen commercial products by managing sold-order and internal processes, providing technical support to internal and external customers, leading product improvement projects, and supporting manufacturing. Analyze machine and option cost structures to improve margins. Track schedules using Microsoft Project, PMI tools, and daily team discussions. Monitor project budgets using finance data, Excel, and PMI tools.
• Maintain a strong leadership pipeline through high standards for selection and evaluation and effective processes for developing and motivating talent. Continually improve these processes. Build the technical and project management skills of direct reports through field training, one-on-one mentoring, and PMI courses.
• Implement and maintain systems that use Engineering’s technical resources effectively and efficiently. Streamline systems and processes to optimize the engineering support required for the product line.
• Drive continuous product cost reduction.
• Ensure engineering and documentation teams fully use information management systems that connect functional areas and software platforms, increasing standardization and automation across the design, build, sold-order, and problem-solving cycle for all EPE equipment.
• Work with engineers to establish drafting, design, and part-description standards for all internal and external resources, ensuring product consistency.
• Administer the Engineering Change Order (ECO) workflow, Publications Change Order (PCO) workflow, and related product data management processes.
• Lead the creation of accurate, user-friendly manuals for packaging equipment. Manage translation projects, provide manuals electronically to Field Service, and use advancing technologies to improve publication usability, accuracy, cost, and delivery.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• vision insurance
• variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health
• Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director