Ops Improvement & System Support Manager

Essential Duties:

1. Oversee operations business systems to determine best practices in application, training, and verification to optimize functionality in as efficient manner as possible.
2. Create ownership and drive results with cross functional support for research initiatives, investigations and implementations resulting in improvement in food safety, quality, productivity, and systems utilization to improve company and/or product performance.
3. Brainstorming new ways to add more functionality to information, lean manufacturing and training business systems while maintaining program continuity across operational locations
4. Create and disseminate reporting to drive visibility in department activities, production results, and improvement project management.
5. Work cross functionally to audit, identify and correct business systems failures minimizing interruption and expense through testing and validation
6. Manage and support Manufacturing Support team in production data verification, entry, and reporting
7. Training / leading stakeholders on process improvement / lean initiatives
8. Training / supporting stakeholders on plant floor systems utilization while developing subject matter experts  
9. Work to achieve strategic goals and priorities as outlined by MLF’s Management.
10. Perform related duties as required.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

1. Ability to work efficiently in food manufacturing and distribution environments is required.
2. Able to rapidly develop and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of duck processing and distribution practices and standard operating procedures.
3. Certification and or equivalent experience in at least one of the following… Black belt, Green belt, Lean Specialist, or similar Continuous Improvement methodology.
4. Developed statistical, data analysis, interpretation, reporting and problem solving skills.
5. Strong computer skills… Microsoft Suite, MES/MRP Experience
6. Ability to learn and apply USDA, GFSI, HACCP, Quality Assurance, OSHA, and all required standards and programs.
7. Ability to act as a change agent within and across the organization. This demands a particularly high level of interpersonal skills and the ability to deal effectively with very sensitive information and / or issues at all levels of the organization.   
8. Able to work on multiple initiatives and projects simultaneously.
9. Able to travel intermittently.
10. Able to interact with people from a wide range of backgrounds effectively.

Knowledge and skills identified are typically acquired through a degree or equivalent work experience in Food Science, Food Process Engineering, and/or Quality Assurance. Progressive management experience is  helpful; work within the poultry industry is most helpful. Exposure to large scale project implementation, process engineering, and automation/ industry technology is helpful.