VP Engineering

Kerry Group•Beloit, WI

5h•$195,000 - $320,950

About The Position

The VP, Engineering will represent the Engineering function across North America and partner closely with the Integrated Operations leadership team and Global Engineering leadership. The role will lead regional engineering strategy, strengthen asset care maturity and equipment reliability, oversee asset performance across the full technical lifecycle, and provide governance for the regional capital portfolio and capital projects. The role will also champion key process technologies with R&D and Operations and embed Kerry Engineering standards, governance and ways of working across the region. The role has the following main facets strategy and operations; asset care and equipment reliability; capital portfolio management, capital planning and capital project execution; engineering standards and governance; leadership and people development; transformation, change and stakeholder management; operational efficiency and sustainability.

Requirements

At least 15 years of progressive engineering experience in a multinational environment, including significant leadership experience in manufacturing operations.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required; Chemical, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering preferred.
Strong experience with production equipment, maintenance, project engineering, capital management, capital planning, capital projects, asset care and equipment reliability.
Strong mix of strategic and operational experience at a leadership level within best-practice, global manufacturing organizations, ideally across a regional, multi-site network.
Demonstrated experience improving plant availability, maintenance maturity, equipment reliability and engineering performance across manufacturing sites.
Experience creating and implementing engineering standards, training programs and capability-building strategies across a multi-site and multi-technology manufacturing business.
Proven track record of identifying and driving continuous improvement, standardization and change management initiatives to build a customer-focused, high-performing engineering function.
Experience working with common budget, capital management and capital project governance tools; working knowledge of SAP preferred.
Strong evidence of building winning teams, developing talent and strengthening functional succession pipelines.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred.
Experience in the food or food ingredients industry strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the regional Engineering function with a focus on safety, quality, service, cost, sustainability, engineering standards, asset care and equipment reliability.
Partner with Operations, R&D and Global Engineering to develop and implement regional engineering strategy, standards and ways of working across North American sites.
Lead short- and long-term regional capital planning, capital management and capital project governance, ensuring investment priorities are aligned to business strategy and projects are delivered within approved scope, budget and timelines.
Improve plant availability, asset care maturity and equipment reliability through best practice, structured governance, preventive and predictive maintenance, and continuous improvement.
Ensure plants and assets comply with local regulations, industry standards, internal guidelines and best practices.
Develop and strengthen maintenance and repair practices across the region to reduce downtime, improve reliability and extend equipment life.
Accelerate adoption of digital technologies, including automation, robotization and data management, to improve competitiveness and performance visibility.
Lead engineering business continuity and risk management, including automation obsolescence and cyber security risks across the manufacturing network.
Build engineering and technical capability across the region, including capability development for engineers and site engineering teams.
Maintain effective relationships with key vendors, partners and relevant authorities, including leveraging supplier-led innovation.
Play an active leadership role in the Integrated Operations Leadership Team and with Global Engineering stakeholders.