Director, North America Operations

For more than 120 years, KASCO has been the industry leader in providing quality products, parts, repairs, and service to the meat processing and retail institutional food industries.  Our cutting edge products include band saw blades, meat grinder plates and knives, and cutlery.  We also offer a vast range of butcher supplies, seasonings, replacement parts, and repair services to grocers, restaurants, and meat, seafood, deli and bakery departments.

SUMMARY:

Responsible for Kasco’s North America Manufacturing and Warehouse Operations including the day-to-day administrative and operational functions for the Mexico manufacturing and NA warehousing facilities as well as supporting the strategy and working directly with the sales teams for those products. Must have direct experience working with Mexico Maquiladoras.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

Design, plan and be accountable for production, distribution, scheduling and inventory control activities of the Manufacturing facility.  This includes establishing production priorities for quality, manufacturing and distribution of products in accordance with company efficiency and cost parameters for all production departments.

Establish and promote the four core values of Teamwork, Integrity, Respect and Commitment as well as our six guiding principles.

Work closely with executives and department leaders to ensure employee engagement, a safe work environment of manufacturing and distribution center compliance of all local, state and federal laws regarding worker safety, environmental and labor relations issues, utilize technology and look for improvements in efficiency and product development.

Although not directly responsible for Sales, this role requires setting and achieving profit goals for the Operation, through strategic planning and execution aimed at supporting Sales goals to increase revenue while decreasing costs of production and distribution. A critical piece will be establishing a mindset, specific goals, and executing on continuous improvement through optimizing efficiencies, leveraging Steel Partners Business Systems (SBS) and LEAN activities. 

Coordinate manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and distribution activities in combination with sales activities to obtain optimum production and utilization of human resources, equipment, and floor space.

Partner with CFO to ensure that the P&L goals and objectives are achieved.

Foster the Quality Improvement Process through engineering with subordinates to improve plant layout and manufacturing methods.

Review and analyze customer demand, production scheduling and inventory reports to maximize OTD and customer satisfaction, while achieving target inventory turns.

Direct product development activity of engineering staff required to meet marketing and sales requirements.

Work with the Director of Human Resource to implement safety programs that will reduce the number of work-related injuries in the plant and cost of Worker’s Compensation.

This list is not all inclusive and other duties and responsibilities may be added or assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Overall responsibility for all Mexico factory and related personnel, with direct Factory reports including Production Manager(s) and supporting functions, noting that certain roles have shared reporting with Headquarters (e.g. Finance, HR, IT).  Also, the St Louis-based Warehouse Manager and team will report to this position. 

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, mentoring and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

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.

• Proven leadership skills


• Strategic mindset


• Embody the Core Values


• Strong communication and collaboration abilities


• Analytical thinking and decision-making capabilities


• Financial acumen


• Regulatory compliance awareness


• Experience in managing high-performing manufacturing and sales teams

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

BS degree in a Business-related discipline such as Business Administration, Operations, Finance, Accounting, or Supply Chain.  Other bachelor degrees will be considered.  Master’s degree preferred.

Minimum of ten (10) years experience in a manufacturing setting

Minimum eight (8) years of experience in a managerial role with at least one year of full Business Unit P&L responsibility required.

Experience managing other disciplines such as Quality, Lean, Safety, HR, and Finance.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Bright, versatile thinker


• Able to communicate effectively at all levels


• Decisive


• Logical


• Aggressive


• Focused


• Competitive


• Ambitious


• Effective people developer/team builder


• Organized


• “Hands on”, not afraid to roll up sleeves


• Solid understanding of the numbers and able to decipher the data

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Union labor training and experience, OSHA training, communication training.  Computer literate.

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 talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to sit.  The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The employee must be able to travel on an airplane and drive an automobile (rental).

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts.  The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibrations.  Plant is not air-conditioned, but is heated in winter, office is air conditioned and heated. 

The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.