Director, Operations
About The Position
The Director of Operations provides overall leadership for Smucker’s Topeka pet food manufacturing plant. The role shapes the plant’s vision, develops its people, and drives performance across safety, quality, reliability, cost, sustainability, and continuous improvement. The Director leads the site leadership team and builds capabilities to meet current priorities and the plant’s long-term strategy, while connecting the operation with the broader Pet business, cross-functional partners, and the local community. The position is 100% onsite at 2200 NW Brickyard Road, Topeka, Kansas, and requires willingness to work extended hours and flow to the work as needed. The Director leads plant and supply chain performance, implements and improves operating systems, champions health, safety, environment, and quality expectations, and develops the plant vision, master plan, budgets, and strategic plans. The role also oversees readiness for capital investments, commissioning, and new processes; ensures compliance with company requirements and applicable regulations; builds a culture of accountability and continuous improvement; develops site leaders and organizational capability; partners across business functions; and represents the company in the Topeka community.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience.
- Successful experience leading a plant or large manufacturing operation.
- Experience implementing and sustaining continuous improvement or high-performing work systems such as Operations Excellence, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Lean, Six Sigma, or HPO.
- Demonstrated success leading, coaching, and developing leaders.
- Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate business priorities into action and measurable results.
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and prioritization capabilities.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to engage employees, leaders, cross-functional partners, and external stakeholders.
- Willingness to work extended hours and flow to the work as needed.
Nice To Haves
- Experience leading within a large, complex manufacturing environment.
- Ability to lead through influence, collaboration, empowerment, and accountability.
- Experience building organizational capability and developing strong leadership pipelines.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
- Track record of building productive cross-functional relationships and mobilizing teams around a common vision.
Responsibilities
- Lead overall plant and supply chain performance across safety, quality, cost, sustainability, reliability, loss reduction, inventory, financial performance, and capital project management.
- Implement and continuously improve Operations Excellence, High Performing Organization (HPO), and related operating systems to deliver sustainable results.
- Champion Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and Quality expectations and build ownership and capabilities throughout the site.
- Develop and execute the plant vision, master plan, capital and expense budgets, and strategic plans to support current and future business needs.
- Lead operational readiness for capital investments, equipment commissioning, and implementation of new processes and capabilities.
- Ensure compliance with company requirements and applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
- Build a culture focused on accountability, engagement, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
- Lead, coach, and develop the site leadership team, establishing clear accountability and cross-functional collaboration.
- Strengthen organizational capability through staffing, succession planning, and leadership and professional development across the plant.
- Build partnerships across Operations, Supply Chain, Corporate Services, Marketing, Research & Development, Engineering, Human Resources, and other support functions.
- Collaborate across functions to connect plant priorities with broader business needs and deliver results.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with local government, community organizations, suppliers, vendors, and other external stakeholders.
- Strengthen the plant’s connection to the Topeka community and maintain a positive company presence.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
