Operations Manager – West Aseptic (Thermal Processing)

  We make coffee, tea and water taste better and help people live happier, healthier and longer lives by making it easy to reduce sugar.

We offer an excellent compensation and benefits package. Come grow with us!

This role is not a remote opportunity, it is on-site at our Manufacturing Plant in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Scope:

The Operations Manager – West Aseptic (Thermal Processing) is responsible for overseeing daily aseptic operations inclusive of Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Inventory, and employee development.

Essential Duties and Key Responsibilities: 

• Plan, organize, and direct the daily plant operating requirements sufficient to meet and exceed operating metrics as defined for a three-shift operation.
• Initiate plans and processes which minimize manufacturing costs through effective utilization of manpower, equipment, facilities, materials, and capital. Assure attainment of business objectives and production schedules while ensuring product standards meet or exceed customer expectations.
• Manage staff, prepare work schedules, and assign specific duties.
• Encourage use of innovative productivity techniques and focus on fact-based problem solving.
• Establish group and individual accountability throughout assigned departments for problem solving and cost reduction, both on a permanent and ad-hoc basis, depending on need.
• Establish and implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, and procedures, conferring with senior management and staff members as necessary.
• Determine staffing requirements and improve manpower utilization within existing departments and processes.
• Coordinate with other department heads as required.
• Review daily departmental and plant-wide financial performance and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement and determine best course of action to countermeasure any variances.
• Assist with the organization’s financial and budgeting activities to fund operations, maximize investments, and increase efficiency.
• Continually improve safety record by addressing both physical safety issues and employee safety attitudes. Maintain and improve housekeeping in all areas.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Food Science, or a technical field.
• Minimum 10 years of increasingly responsible manufacturing experience, at least 5 years which must be with aseptic processing in the food industry.  
• Preference to high-speed packaging experience for Aseptic manufacturing experience for liquid processing.
• Demonstrated leadership of safety initiatives.
• Demonstrated track record leading the improvement of operations while delivering day to day performance.
• Familiarity with the operations of all plant departments: production, quality, maintenance, materials management, controllership, human resources, etc.
• Participative management style and excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience building a strong operations team.
• Comfortable working with a highly complex portfolio mixes with several diverse manufacturing technologies.
• Strong business acumen and working knowledge of process control and improvement tools.
• Comfortable working with multiple systems including ERP (Syspro), Windows suite, etc.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to physically perform the functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions
• Must be able to work seated using a computer and phone for long periods of time
• Must be able to work extended hours, such as daily overtime and an occasional weekend
• Must possess visual acuity to document company records
• Continuous walking throughout plant and distribution center
• Lifting to 40 pounds