Business Unit Leader

Department: Production
Location: Manufacturing Plant
FLSA Status: Exempt
Prepared/Revised Date: March 2024

About the Position

The Business Unit Leader is responsible for driving the strategies and effectiveness of the business unit, by overseeing operations and leading a team of production employees within a Business Unit. This role requires end-to-end, effective leadership, planning, technical expertise, communication, and coaching skills to empower teams to produce high-quality products that meet customer needs cost-effectively.

Essential Functions:

• Lead people, teams, and processes; set expectations, track results, and manage accountability within the Production department.
• Organize, manage, and analyze daily production requirements and key performance indicators to consistently meet customer expectations.
• Evaluate team performance efficiencies and coordinate necessary resources for schedule attainment and process optimization.
• Develop strategic and tactical plans to meet short- and long-term business needs with timely implementation.
• Manage financial performance, including budgeting, costing, expense and direct labor tracking, and results feedback.
• Collaborate effectively with peers in various functional areas such as Quality, Procurement, Maintenance, Logistics, and Human Resources.
• Coach, teach, and provide development opportunities for team members through performance management activities such as reviews and ongoing feedback.
• Proactively identify problems and recommend and implement solutions.
• Manage projects and lead collaborative groups to effectively solve problems.
• Ensure product quality and customer requirements are met by managing resources and systems.
• Uphold the company’s culture by actively supporting/driving the value of safety, quality as its linked to food safety, 5S practices, continuous improvement, TPM practices, and fostering dignity and respect in the workplace.
• Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned anytime.

Position Requirements:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Select, empower, lead, manage, retain, and develop employees while building an effective, collaborative, and qualified team.
• Rapidly learn and understand how business departments such as food processing, packaging, logistics, and mechanical functions affect operations.
• Illustrate flexibility and readiness to flow to the work without notice, regardless of shift/crew, per the focused need of the business unit.
• Embracing 24-7 operations, take responsibility and ownership of the business unit by always being an available and eager resource for subordinates and key stakeholders.
• Demonstrate teamwork by interacting effectively with people in all areas of the company and building cross-functional work teams.
• Be a self-starter with high initiative who continues to expand knowledge of business processes, tools, data, etc.
• Be a systematic problem solver proficient with root cause analysis and capable of implementing effective solutions.
• Possess strong business and production skills in processing, packaging, and mechanical areas.
• Demonstrate creativity while leading change and continuous improvement processes for projects in all areas.
• Have strong oral and written communication skills; write clearly, speak persuasively, and facilitate groups effectively.
• Be decisive and competent using sound judgment based on standard practices.
• Understand and use computer software, including MS Office, inventory management, and other proprietary and database software.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

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

Education and/or Experience:

• 2-year degree in manufacturing, engineering, food processing, or other applicable field, or equivalent work experience.
• Demonstrated experience effectively leading individuals, teams, or work groups.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or a similar environment with continuously increasing levels of responsibility.
• Prefer manufacturing experience in processing and packaging management, food industry experience strongly desired.

Attendance:

To support ongoing business goals and successfully contribute to your team, acceptable levels of performance and attendance must be consistently maintained, including attending all required meetings and events. Requires the flexibility to work non-standard hours as needed.

Quality:

Follow procedures to ensure all food quality standards are met or exceeded. Produce quality work measured by efficiency, accuracy, and completion of both personal and company goals in a manner that embodies CM values and our culture of integrity, dignity, and respect.

Safety/Legal:

Conduct work in a safe and legal manner, according to all GMP food safety standards and safety protocols. Be responsible for your safety and health as well as the safety and health of all employees, vendors, and visitors.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

This position requires working in both manufacturing and office environments. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone along with reaching. Specific vision abilities include close vision requirements due to computer work. Moderate noise, ability to work in a confined area, and ability to sit at a computer for an extended period are also included. Must be able to effectively communicate and work in a dynamic environment. You may also be on your feet for several hours a day and may be exposed to a variety of physical demands that require you to lift heavy objects, climb stairs, exert energy, bend, twist, and squat, and use tools and equipment in an indoor production environment with a high level of food dust and limited climate control while wearing PPE.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit our employees nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of the company.

The policy of Continental Mills, Inc. dba The Krusteaz Company is to hire, train, and promote all persons in all job groups in accordance with the law, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or military status, national origin, gender identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law.