Plant Director - Abilene, KS

Russell Stover•Abilene, KS

3d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Plant Director, you will be the senior onsite leader in our Abilene, KS manufacturing facility. You will be a key member of the company’s operations leadership team & will be accountable for all aspects of plant performance to ensure business, operational, quality, and food safety objectives are achieved. As a dynamic leader, you will prioritize a safe working environment and be an advocate for ensuring talent retention, development, and engagement for approximately 500 employees onsite. This critical role requires a confident leader with strong technical and communication skills with the ability to build relationships across the organization while balancing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in industrial, mechanical, food science, or business administration or related field.
Minimum 10+ years of proven experience in a leadership role within a manufacturing environment.
Proven experience in continuous improvement using lean tools (5S, TPM, Six Sigma, or similar).
Experience with SAP in a manufacturing environment.
Training in engineering standards.

Nice To Haves

Advanced Degree.
Experience in a process-oriented, food manufacturing environment.
Training in engineering standards such as “Lean” sanitation, food safety, and regulations.

Responsibilities

Ensure the production and delivery of quality products on time and in the safest, most efficient, and cost-effective manner.
Manage all resources related to operations within the plant to ensure products are manufactured in the quantities required within the designated time frames at the most efficient cost without compromising high standards for safety and quality.
Lead and coordinate production operations, employee health and safety, maintenance engineering, quality, and continuous improvement efforts for the plant.
Manage daily operations within the plant to achieve production and business goals.
Hire, train, motivate, and develop staff and create a high-performing, engaged workforce.
Ensure employee safety while improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the plant.
Partner with Engineering teams to create and execute capital investments to address cost and capacity needs.
Partner with Human Resources to develop programs and tools to drive a high-performing and engaging culture within the plant.
Test and monitor plant performance through production reports and analysis.
Champion change to develop a culture of continuous improvement.
Lead the staff to identify and develop present and future capacities through manpower and machinery to ensure the most cost-efficient operations.
Ensure production is scheduled to meet plans and schedules are executed effectively and on time.
Establish and maintain an organized system, optimize processes and methods to ensure maximum and steady output, increase efficiency, and reduce waste.
Develop and improve production and sanitation processes to maintain and improve quality standards as well as minimize waste and inefficiencies.
Understand the Manufacturing budget and manage expectations.
Maintain effective communication of company goals and relevant information to employees.
Develop and encourage effective working relationships within the department and with support organizations.
Ensure safety programs are followed in place and effectively executed.
Lead the plant on the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) for FSSC certification.
Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines to ensure product quality and uphold food safety standards.
Identify and address potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities, while maintaining proactive communication with supervisors.
Document food safety and quality procedures, maintaining detailed records of monitoring, verification, and corrective actions, following training.