Director, Operations

Directs and oversees all Operations and Manufacturing processes for Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc. for the Landover Consumer Products Plant. Responsible for planning and directing continuous improvement, team building and staff development. The Director, Operations will encourage employee engagement in continuous improvement activities, high-touch involvement in lean manufacturing principles and successful outcomes.

Must have a strong sense of integrity, strong organizational skills, be customer focused, have people skills that are geared toward professional composure, networking, problem solving, working in a “complex” organization with people at all levels and functions. Will have the ability to analyze, communicate and present information to management and employees while working closely with other departments. The Director, Operations will make ongoing operational recommendations to Senior Management on increasing efficiencies, capital equipment needs, staff development and overall facility improvements.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE WORKING AT MOALA:

• Owned by a cooperative of family farmers who are passionate about cultivating sustainable dairy goodness and bottling fresh Maola brand milk and dairy products.
• 100+ years of dedicated stability and growth across 11 states.
• Competitive pay, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Life Insurance, Time Off Provisions, and more, available no later than one month after hire.
• Our employees are an integral part of who we are — what you do and what you think matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Responsible for budget management of Landover’s operations activities.
• Responsible for capital planning within budgeted dollars and meeting timelines.
• Responsible for Regulatory and Environmental/Safety Compliance.
• Responsible for all production reporting by department.
• Responsible for problem solving for all operational and manufacturing operations, coordinating with finance, sales and marketing teams at the plant.
• Responsible for Union relations and negotiations for the union contract and union employees within operations of the facility.
• Responsible for driving, supporting and executing innovation projects; the incumbent must think creatively and encourage innovation throughout the facility.
• Support the implementation of a multi-year network strategy aimed at improving produced quality and reducing production costs.
• Responsible for Landover’s operational hiring and human resource evaluations for operation, Maintenance, sanitation, Quality Assurance and any operational department personnel.
• Responsible for leading, coaching and directing the on-site leadership team to meet customer, employee, quality and financial targets.
• Directs and assists individual department leaders to identify department specific goals.
• Responsible for training programs for all levels of employees within the Operations department, coordinating with the HR Business Partner and Corporate Talent Management Manager.
• Responsible for coaching and mentoring the management staff.
• Responsible for all succession planning for the Landover’s Operations teams.
• Participate and drive strategic planning with the Senior Staff for the future success of the business and execute effectively with the Operational team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES PERCENTAGES:

• Corporate meetings, strategy sessions and Operational staff interaction (20% of time)
• Operations activities (80% of time)

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Yes: Plant Manager and Project Managers of Operations and Manufacturing, Technical Services including Engineering and quality personnel pertaining to operational activities at the facility. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these positions. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Ultimate responsibility for all Landover employees – all shifts.

QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
The successful candidate must possess outstanding academic credentials that include an undergraduate degree with an MBA preferred (not required).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Must have at least 10 years + of Plant Management in dairy or food manufacturing.
• The ideal candidate will have extensive prior experience in dairy processing, preferably a Director level management position within the industry.
• Experience in Continuous Improvement Processes and methodologies such as LEAN Manufacturing.
• Experience and proven track record of a high level of engaging floor level and supervisory employees at the production facility.
• Must demonstrate interdepartmental employee development and cross functional management.
• Must have a keen understanding of and the ability to interpret business financials, including cause / effect relationships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to lead people and achieve results through others.
• Dedicated and flexible to meet the time demands of the division.
• Self-Starter motivated by measurable results and data driven decision making skills.
• Action Oriented with tactical outlook, combined with well-developed inter personal skills that enable solid track record of execution on strategic plans and decisions made by Maryland & Virginia.
• Adaptable to change generated by business necessity.
• Excellent conflict resolution skills and demonstrated experience in directing and motivating multi-level talent.
• Strategic and operational planning expertise with an action oriented perspective, sound problem analysis and logical thinking with the ability to develop effective solutions and execute to achieve desired results.
• A proven track record of managing: production resources, manufacturing capacity, and establishing positive employee relations.
• Ability to initiate and implement continuous improvement projects addressing: process efficiency, product costs and performance/output in response to operational objectives, budget parameters and customer demands.
• Understand the overall strategy of Maryland & Virginia and align the division’s assets accordingly with the overall value chain.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to type; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and or move up to 40 pounds. The employee is required to travel by car to company sites and off site meetings. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• Work is performed in climate-controlled manufacturing environments.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• The employee will occasionally exposed to refrigerated areas with a temperature to 34° F.

Maola Local Dairies, owned by the farmers of Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MDVA), sustainably produces a full suite of nutritious dairy products through our network of six dairy processing plants. With a keen eye on quality, freshness, and love for the environment, Maola delivers dairy products that are both nutritious and sustainable to our local communities. For more information about Maola, please visit

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)