Plant Director

at  SunOpta

SUNOPTA OVERVIEW:

SunOpta (Nasdaq: STKL) (TSX: SOY) is an innovative and sustainable manufacturer fueling the future of food. With roots tracing back over 50 years, SunOpta drives growth for today’s leading brands by serving as a trusted innovation partner and value-added manufacturer, crafting organic, plant-based beverages, fruit snacks, nutritional beverages, broths and tea products sold through retail, club, foodservice and e-commerce channels. Alongside the company’s commitment to top brands, retailers and coffee shops, SunOpta also proudly produces its own brands, including SOWN®, Dream®, and West Life™. For more information, visit SunOpta and LinkedIn.
SunOpta is looking for talented individuals that demonstrate our most valued behaviors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!

JOB SUMMARY:

SunOpta is seeking a Plant Director for our Niagara manufacturing plant. In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the production operation, while meeting all SunOpta operating and strategic goals for the plant.
This position directs the Manufacturing, Packaging, Warehousing, Distribution, Quality, Human Resources, Safety, Capital Expenditures, and Purchasing functions at the plant level. This position is also responsible for ensuring that products are produced in a safe, sanitary environment, conforming to recognized industry GMP’s and delivered in accordance with industry standards and customer specifications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certificate and/or Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Packaging or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in production engineering, production supervision and plant management in a food manufacturing environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Candidate must possess a strong working knowledge of business and mechanical systems.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing practices is beneficial.
• Outstanding verbal, written, multi-tasking and presentation skills.
• Ability to create momentum and foster organizational change.
• Must have working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs.
• Experience with Oracle.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills
• Able to manage human relations issues in a non-union environment
• A self-starter, capable of developing and maintaining a team environment
• Have an ability to be proactive in all phases of the operation
• Have ability in analytical problem solving
• Be able to demonstrate SunOpta’s Most Valuable Behaviors: Dedication, Passion, Entrepreneurship, Speed, Problem Solving and Customer Centricity

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Majority of work is performed in a plant manufacturing and office environment. Relocation or international remote working arrangements will not be considered.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

• Establish cost savings and goals involving staff, vendors and customers to achieve the lowest possible manufacturing costs.
• Develop and implement effective supply chain management programs linking procurement, processing, packaging, and distribution into a seamless process and ensure that adequate programs are in place in all disciplines to ensure maximum efficiency.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all business functions internal and external to the plant. Efficiently utilize all equipment, raw material, packaging materials and staff to ensure the lowest possible cost.
• Establish plant food safety programs that ensure the compliance with all provincial, local and customer requirements. Ensures that in line food safety controls are established to detect and correct quality failures and reduce out of specification product. Ensure that adequate reporting is in place to facilitate continuous improvement programs and provide efficient tractability and recall requirements.
• Ensure that all Health and Safety programs comply with provincial and federal regulations. Conduct monthly progress and training meetings. Ensure that all accident reports and records are timely and in compliance.
• Comply all SunOpta Quality and food safety standards, HACCP, GMPs, Organic, GFCO, SQF, Kosher certificate and customer requirements.
• Work with current and existing customers to develop an environment of mutual trust and understanding, establishing SunOpta Ingredients as the supplier of choice for manufacturing and packaging.
• Provide finance with Capital expenditures for the budget.
• Maintain Key Performance Indicators including but not limited to Capacity Utilization, Throughput, Overall Equipment Efficiency, Machine Downtime, Inventory Turns, Demand Forecasting, Order Fill Rate and Quality specifications.
• Coordinate all plant purchasing activities, establishing and delegating accountabilities and signing authority as may be appropriate.
• Work closely with the Maintenance Manager developing preventative maintenance programs and procedures to reduce mechanical downtime and ensure that breakdowns are repaired with a minimum of processing disruption.
• Conduct weekly meetings with the Maintenance and Production Manager to develop corrective action plans and assigns priorities relative to improving production reliability and reducing downtime.
• Establish effective communication practices that provide operating information to operators, staff and upper management on a daily, monthly basis insuring that all parts of the company have the information necessary to affect continuous improvement. Items to be covered; identify issues, production schedules, cost controls, budget compliance and implementation of corrective action plans.
• Ensure that Human Resources programs are in place addressing the selection, training, development, motivation, and cultural expectations of all plant employees and the company. Ensure that job descriptions are up to date and that reviews are conducted on a periodic basis, at a minimum annually.
• Must adhere to all Good Manufacturing Practices and Safety Policies.
• Responsible for Food Safety and reporting any non-compliance issues to their immediate Manager.

Supervisory Responsibilities:Direct reports:

• Production Manager
• Maintenance Manager
• Senior Materials Manager
• Other Plant Management roles.