SUMMARY

As Value Stream Manager, you will lead and integrate the efforts of operating teams across multiple shifts to ensure that quality products are safely manufactured in sanitary conditions. This is a critical leadership role for the execution of company plans, and you are a key contributor to ensuring we are modeling the values the company was founded on. This role reports to the Plant Director, but will partner very closely with the Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, Human Resources, Finance, and IT teams. Direct reports include the production supervisor roles and support all production team members.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Conversion - Manage the efforts of operating teams of multiple lines, departments, and/or technologies within a value stream across multiple shifts in the efficient conversion of materials into quality products in a safe, secure and sanitary manner within the product design specifications and budgets. Directly and indirectly manage a cross-functional team in the overall operation of the value stream, including activity management, capacity planning, machine rates, Maintenance and Engineering projects, Research and Development improvements, and scheduling.

· Nature’s Bakery Operating System – Advocate and actively support the site Operating System. Participate in value stream information flow and escalation processes as required. Proactively participate and coach direct reports and others in the value stream Operating System. Ensure all Value Stream SOPs are created and up to date annually. Conduct and lead CI teams within the value stream, coordinate preventative maintenance (PM) downtime, ensure proper staffing and work with planning on weekly production schedules.

· Change Agent - Recommend and implement changes in methods, equipment, systems and organization, as needed, to assure that the objectives of the area are met. Deliver area requirements by influencing and gaining co-operation from other departments (Engineering, Quality Services, Commercial and Scheduling/Logistics).

· Team Member Advocacy - Proactively manage employee relations issues; guide and direct the hiring, training, retraining, development and motivation of Operations team members following team working principles with a minimum degree of guidance from the Site Director. Drive team member engagement through a foundation of teamwork and individual accountability. Engagement scores will be the criteria of choice for assuring consistency from site to site.

· Food Safety and Product Quality – Assure the ongoing production of safe and defect free products consistent with the principles of Nature’s Bakery. This role owns ongoing training and championing of quality goals and improvements at the area level.

· Goal Setting and Measurement - Utilizing Operations teams, establish area performance

standards and goals based on site goals and strategies; measure, control, take corrective action and report results as appropriate in all areas of responsibility. Annually assist in development of area budgets and KPI targets.

· Troubleshooting - Manage/guide the technical area coverage resources for the troubleshooting and repair of process/packaging equipment problems, with the objective of effectively utilizing these resources to achieve desired performance levels.

· Communications - Ensure that open communications are established and that opportunities to broaden the scope and responsibility of Operations teams/team members are undertaken. The Production Supervisor is the key resource to deliver regular business performance updates.

· Technology Advancement - Advise the Site Director when opportunities exist for moving the area forward in technological change. Recommend improvements, which would result in new and improved equipment and or methods to minimize production costs and improve quality.

· Strategy - Participate with the Site Director and other Operations support team members in the implementation of short-term and long-term improvement strategies that will enable more effective and efficient Value Stream performance.

· Value Stream Strategy – Participate with other managers in Planning, Sourcing, Delivery, Engineering, and Strategic business roles in the development and implementation of continuous improvement strategies that will drive the overall supply pipeline.

· Team Member Development - With the support and participation of the site leadership team, evaluate exempt and non-exempt team member performance. In conjunction with team members’ career goals, create development plans to challenge their potential.

· Site Management – The incumbent of this position must be prepared to act on behalf of the Site Director in his/her absence, i.e., protection of human and physical assets, Crisis Management, conducting Staff Meetings, addressing public relations issues, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The following list that follows is representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required:

• Technical experience in a high speed manufacturing environment.

• Food manufacturing experience preferred

• Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to work with all levels of the organization

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and execute. Results oriented.

 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• BS/BA in engineering, scientific discipline or similar applied field strongly preferred

• Minimum 5 years’ experience within a consumer products (CPG) environment is required, with preference for both breadth and depth of operational experience.

• Depth of continuous improvement and problem-solving experience

• FSMA/PCQI certifications preferred

• Audit experience with regulatory bodies (FDA/USDA) and third-party audits (SQF/AIB)

• Proficient user of ERP tools

• Strong project management and coordination skills