Manufacturing Site Director

Manufacturing Site Director

The Manufacturing Site Director role provides overall direction for the Kiel, WI facility in all areas of safety, quality, sanitation, cost, customer service, cheesemaking, and labor relations. Responsible for driving improved performance in all these areas that meets business targets and supports growth. Accountable for cheesemaking, cheese quality, plant asset utilization, and positive employee relations. Works closely with sales to ensure effective customer relationships by attending joint gradings and customer visits.

Kiel is a 24/7/365 milk receiving facility that produces ageable cheddar and sweet whey. Other responsibilities include developing and executing the site budget within corporate guidelines. Manage all plant resources to optimize profitability to meet or exceed internal and external customer expectations. Creating a positive work environment that supports continuous improvement, reinforces company philosophy and policies, and ensures a diverse and inclusive workforce. Develop the skills and capabilities of both salaried and hourly team members.

Experience-Education (Required):

• 10+ years progressive manufacturing experience with proven leadership experience managing managers and a history of delivering sustainable results.
• High school diploma or equivalent. Undergraduate degree in related curriculum preferred.
• Demonstrated success in union environments, contract negotiations, and Employee/Labor Relations.
• Dairy experience in Milk Receiving, Cheese Make process and aged cheddar experience is preferred.
• Develop and coach teamwork and collaboration within the entire site that improves plant culture and drives business results.
• Proven track record with Mfg Transformation/change management that drives cost savings and improves overall plant culture.
• Knowledge of financial and budgetary experience.

Competencies-Skills (Required):

• Ability to effectively lead the plant staff of managers, supervisors, engineers, cheesemakers, as well as the union hourly team to achieve all plant goals.
• Ability to effectively interact with cross-functional teams in corporate including EHS, Quality, R&D, SO, Finance, sales, and the business team.
• Technical acumen to solve problems and lead engineers, cheesemakers, and supervisors that result in high quality, ageable cheddar cheese.
• Be outgoing and authentic to build and sustain Member and Cooperative Relations, as well as employee relationship and engagement.
• Possess a passion for diversity and inclusion, including a proven record of accomplishment of leading diversity initiatives and delivering results.
• Provide a clear and strategic direction and execute with excellence.
• Define and present to Operations Management the plant's viewpoints and recommendations on long-term operating goals and programs and drive performance in all key areas including Cost, Quality, Safety, People, and Environmental to drive profitability and customer requirements.
• Ability to lead the team to innovate, develop, and implement cost savings initiatives that drive improved cost/lb performance year on year.
• Prioritize Human Safety and Food Safety as the First Priority.
• Determine the need for organizational changes to meet current budgetary and longer-term TMM operating objectives.
• Possess solid financial background and experiences to understand daily, monthly, and annual to date impact of line efficiency, material yield, and labor productivity for overall Plant, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain performance.
• Experience in developing and executing capital budget.
• Determines best course of action in problem solving for quality, logistics, sourcing, and engineering requirements in a matrix organization.
• Defines and directs activities in Employee Relations and other manufacturing policies and procedures.
• Effective interaction and integration of support functions of EHS, Quality, Eng, TS, SO, Logistics, Sourcing, Human Resources and Community relations. Work effectively with all functions to ensure plant and business objectives are met.
• Review existing GMP program and revise and implement as needed.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Experience-Education (Preferred):

• Prefer Bachelor’s degree in related field.
• Progressive manufacturing experience in cheddar cheesemaking, dairy, or food related.
• Lean/Continuous Improvement certifications.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.