Director of Manufacturing

Director of Manufacturing

Position Overview:

The Director of Manufacturing will be responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of a very complex plant. They will be responsible for overseeing the manufacture and delivery of our products to our customers and for achieving safety, quality, service, and cost KPI’s.

The Director of Manufacturing promotes the value, philosophies, and goals of the organization to ensure employees are engaged and working effectively together. They will balance the demands of the day-to-day production requirements with a forward-looking culture of continuous improvement. This balance ensures our organization can deliver on it’s promise to our customers while improving costs year after year for substantiable success.

This position requires a seasoned operations leader who can mentor and coach a team, has strong technical acumen, analytical skills, cross-functional collaboration, and the depth and knowhow to manage an operation with multiple technologies and processes.

Job Responsibilities:

Plant Operations Management:

• Manage plant operations to achieve safety, quality, cost, and service KPI objectives.
• Ensure production targets, quality standards, and delivery schedules are consistently achieved.
• Manage plant capacity, ensuring optimal resource allocation (labor, machinery, materials) to meet production goals.
• Provide site leadership to coordinate and execute the weekly production schedules, capital improvements, and all maintenance activities.
• Direct and support the operations leadership team to solve day-to-day operational issues and reach short- and long-term performance goals.
• Support the implementation of new product lines and product modifications.
• Coordinate and support R&D for new startup/trial/sample runs.
• Drive and lead staff scheduling and making real-time adjustments to balance productivity.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team.
• Establish clear goals for the site and performance expectations for all employees.
• Provide active and positive leadership to drive a culture of winning across the site.
• Build people capability through effective employee relations, hiring, training, and communication for front-line hourly and salaried staff.
• Support and encourage career development.
• In conjunction with Human Resources, provide training programs to enhance employee skills and foster career development.
• Conduct performance reviews, provide open and constructive feedback to aid in growth and development.
• Drive change management initiatives while driving business changes and minimizing people impacts.

Lean Manufacturing & Process Improvement:

• Implement and sustain lean manufacturing principles such as 5S, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping to improve productivity, rates, yields, reduce waste, and enhance process efficiency.
• Lead continuous improvement (CI) initiatives to drive operational excellence and cost reduction.
• Lead the root cause analysis of operational issues and implement corrective actions to improve cost and quality.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Lead the identification and elimination of losses resulting in improvements in costs and quality

Budgeting & Cost Control:

• Develop and manage plant budgets, controlling costs related to production, labor, materials, and maintenance.
• Work collaboratively with Finance for monthly operational and finance reviews.
• Oversee the development and timely execution of the Capital plan for the site.

Technical Oversight:

• Apply technical and process knowledge to troubleshoot and optimize production equipment, machinery, and systems.
• Manage the maintenance, repair, and upgrading of plant equipment to ensure minimal downtime.
• Contribute expertise to engineering projects aimed at improving plant efficiency, capacity, and safety.

Safety & Compliance:

• Ensure all plant operations comply with food safety regulations, health & safety laws, and industry best practices.
• Work directly with local and state regulatory authorities to ensure site compliance
• Monitor and enforce adherence to quality standards, including HACCP and GMP’s.
• Foster a safety culture by ensuring all employees adhere to safety protocols and participate in safety training programs.

Data Analytics & Performance Reporting:

• Utilizes data sets to draw conclusions and create actionable insights.
• Establishes metrics and monitors them closely to measure performance against them.
• Review data over time to identify consistent patterns or trends to assist production planning and scheduling.

Minimum Requirements:

• Four (4) year B.S. degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 10 years’ experience in food Manufacturing Operations
• Multi-plant oversite a plus.
• Knowledge in food processing and / or chemical processing, GMP’s, clean design, etc.
• Strong understanding of Plant and Facility Management.
• Working knowledge of Safety, Quality, Maintenance, HR disciplines and interaction within the plant.
• Familiarity with batch and continuous processing including filtration techniques, extraction and / or product packaging.
• Experience with MS Office applications, including MS project.
• Basic understanding of lean manufacturing techniques and a strong focus on continuous improvement, green belt desirable.
• Experience with highly automated equipment and facilities.
• Familiarity food safety programs like SQF, Kosher, etc.

Skills, Traits, & Competencies:

• A leader who understands the intricacies of the operation process and excels in guiding teams to deliver results.
• Has the ability to set a clear vision for long-term goals and can break them into actionable steps for the team.
• Strong safety and quality focus.
• Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, problem-solving skills.
• Relevant experience from a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong problem-solver, using structured approaches as well as creativity.
• Strong ownership traits for the team, environment, and facility conditions.
• Strong work ethic and sense of urgency.
• High energy, positive attitude, hands on with the ability to keep multiple projects and priorities on track.

About FFP

Florida Food Products (FFP), headquartered in Lake Mary, FL, is one of the world's leading independent providers of natural ingredients. With a legacy spanning over 70 years, we deliver a diverse portfolio of clean label ingredients and innovative system solutions to the food and beverage industry. Our commitment to quality and performance is reflected in our American-made products, which enhance both taste and functionality. Backed by advanced manufacturing capabilities, we specialize in fermentation, patented cold brew extraction, custom flavor development, and a range of drying and blending technologies. Operating from four state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we ensure the accessibility of real, high-quality ingredients—helping our customers create better-for-you food and beverage for consumers.