Group Leader - Production

Rich’s, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizza, appetizers and specialty toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also gain insights to help them stay competitive, no matter their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions geared at helping food industry professionals compete in foodservice, retail, in-store bakery, deli, and prepared foods, among others. Working in 100 locations globally, with annual sales exceeding $4 billion, Rich’s is a global leader with a focus on everything that family makes possible. Rich’s®—Infinite Possibilities. One Family.

 

Purpose Statement

Supervises an operating unit responsible for converting raw materials into finished product in a safe, sanitary, cost-effective, and efficient manner.  Protects the safety, hygiene and quality of the food, while meeting company quality standards. 

Key Accountabilities and Outcomes

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Provide safe work environment for the team. Communicate any potential safety issues, near misses or ergonomic improvements across work groups.  
• Adheres to production schedules, assigning staff to ensure that production quotas are met for finished goods inventories. Minimizes waste and cost and ensures conformance to Safety, Food Defense and Quality standards. 
• Model GLD behaviors daily to drive associate performance and engagement. Provide training and development to optimize their performance and personal growth.  Communicates performance standards to associates, recognizing and rewarding individual and team accomplishments and counseling performance problems. 
• Understand plant-specific associate handbook and consistently follow it. Understand plant-specific union collective bargaining agreements and consistently follow it. 
• Know the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for each critical control point (CCP) for each line they are responsible for. Communicate any issues/concerns between levels and shifts. Understand and ensure food safety and GMP policy in the plant and enforcement of it. 
• Correct ingredients are being used and brought to the lines, and ending inventories accurately returned. Accuracy in the work centers.  
• Understands the product quality checks completed and product meets quality standards (Bullseye/Spec) 
• Directs requisitions for maintenance and repair of production equipment, and for machine parts and manufacturing supplies.   
• Recommends improvements in machinery and equipment and in manufacturing methods. 
• May organize the crews necessary for reconditioning product removed from the freezers, or from production, for reprocessing or repackaging, and ensure these functions are performed in an efficient manner.   
• Ensures Company (Work Instructions and PWIs) are followed. Provide appropriate associate training and documentation of training. 
• Practice Daily Leader Standard Work and audit standard work of group leads 
• Maintains and reports production-related information regarding yields, efficiencies and labor utilization to management.  
• Be knowledgeable about conversions as it relates to yield optimization. Communicate yield performance to team(s).  
• Identify yield improvements opportunities , that is, where the is occurring in the conversion process and/or provide support to improve ingredient and packaging usage while ensuring conformance to food safety and product quality standards.   
• Participates in weekly GMP, 6S, sanitation and safety inspections throughout the production departments and corrects, or issues work orders to correct, any identified deficiencies.  Follows up on work orders, with the appropriate associates to ensure expeditious performance of the requested work. 
• Ensure all lines are in compliance with GMP compliance (Audit ready) 
• Provide direct reports with informal performance assessments and recommendations of training. Setting expectation for associates. 
• Participate in PIT teams, as required  
• Identifies temporary staffing needs of unit for the following day or week, and arrange for the presence and assignment of temporary or regular labor to the unit prior to line start-up. 
• Keeps abreast of latest manufacturing technologies and systems. 
• Performs other related responsibilities, as needed, to support Rich Products Corporation's business objectives

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• HS degree or GED; BA/BS degree in Business, Supply Chain Operations, Food Science, Engineering or related field preferred 
• 3 years supervisory experience in a food-processing, pharmaceutical or chemical manufacturing organization, pref