Senior Site Director, Food Manufacturing

Job Location: ​DeKalb​

Want to make an impact?

The Senior Site Director is a hands-on leadership position that manages our DeKalb, IL, operation with overall responsibilities for team, production, maintenance, facilities, and safety. The Senior Site Director is a critical component of the leadership team, ensuring that our plant operations efficiently deliver safe, high-quality products. The Senior Site Director is a proven leader, team player, and is focused on people development, safety, quality, efficiencies, TPM methodologies, Lean mindset, and delivers solid financial performance for the facility. This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity for the operations professional who understands that in this role 95%+ of the plant team reports indirectly up to this leader and that they will ultimately be responsible for total factory performance. 

Ways you will make a difference

• Manage facility production, packaging, and storage of quality food products including food safety, quality, employee and asset safety, and operational efficiencies
• Directly manage and develop Production, Maintenance, and Sanitation Managers, providing developmental, coaching, and mentoring opportunities
• Partner with and work closely with Human Resources Manager, Safety Manager, Director of Cost Accounting, R&D, and Engineering
• When appropriate act as a Change Agent, promoting the Ferrara vision, operating principles, and drive the path to manufacturing and team excellence
• Be a leader for plant team and cross functionally with other Senior Site Directors and Leaders to share best practices
• Drive adherence of all safety guidelines and always work tirelessly to provide a safe work environment for all employees
• Champion continuous improvement and TPM methodologies along with a Lean mindset across the facility and train/support Managers and Supervisors as necessary
• Manage daily and long-term production activities to meet or exceed budgeted production goals and drive optimum equipment efficiency and productivity
• Manage the physical facilities, production equipment and all associated maintenance in accordance with best practices and Company policies and procedures
• Determines appropriate actions with respect to acting with agility to changing business needs resulting from manpower or material changes and strategically formulate appropriate action plans
• Develop and mentor professional growth and advancement of departmental staff
• Operations leaders and team should reflect the Ferrara operating principles in all they do
• Guide the plant floor data standardization, collection, utilization and management to drive continuous improvement
• Assist management and supervisory team in preparation and execution of customer and regulatory audits. Encourage a plant environment that is always audit ready.
• Implement effective systems and strategies of cost control over capital, operating expenditures, hourly wages, and salaries
• Core to this role is the management of scheduling and staffing for the plant to ensure optimal use of personnel while managing overtime costs
• Oversee production planning to ensure efficient schedules are delivered that drive lowest cost and met customer demands
• Establish and monitor overall plant performance for production and quality standards including compliance with established HACCP, SQF, and GMP guidelines
• Working with maintenance leaders, oversee and maintain preventative maintenance programs and related costs
• Incorporate and maximize floor organization and plant cleanliness among plant personnel
• Support research and development test runs in the plant along with new customer launches
• Oversee inventory readiness including raw materials, packaging and in-process
• Working with warehouse and logistics leaders, ensure facility supply chain flow is efficient

Skills that will make you successful

• Proven leadership abilities in championing continuous improvement, safety, and team building
• Strong interpersonal skills (communication, coaching, setting expectations, providing feedback)
• Demonstrated problem solving and decision-making skills
• Comprehensive business acumen in managing and improving operations, team performance, communication, and processes
• Knowledge of budgeting, procurement, and cost control 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 
• Specific computer skills with SAP, employee timekeeping and maintenance management systems strong preferred

Experiences that will support your success

• Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate business discipline and 10 plus years of relevant and successful job experience in a food manufacturing environment