POSITION SUMMARY:

In this role, the Plant Manager will have accountability for advancing and sustaining safety, quality, customer focus, innovation, working capital and cost commitments for one of Novipax’s manufacturing plants through the use of continuous improvement tools. The Plant Manager will formulate and approve short and long-term operating objectives in areas such as machine efficiency, cost reduction, quality improvement, new product development. Success in this role relies on the ability to build relationships and fully engage all employees in business goals network wide. Will manage 4 direct and 4 indirect leadership reports, while overseeing a team of roughly 130 hourly employees.

RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Ensures that safety procedures are in place to achieve Novipax’s Zero Injury goal.
• Develops and initiates the direction and necessary resources to establish leading edge safety and environmental performance objectives.
• Builds and leads a team to execute the operational and financial plans of Novipax’s Grenada, MS facility.
• Leads plant-wide initiatives, in alignment with Company goals, to ensure positive employee morale by clearly communicating vision, direction, and manufacturing expectations to all employees.
• Leads and oversees the implementation of annual operating plan for Grenada, including staffing, raw materials, procurement, production, and inventory planning.
• Collaborates in the development of, reviews and approves the annual financial operating budget.
• Participates in strategic planning process, translating manufacturing objectives to individual goals for key plant employees.
• Working with Plant Cost Accountant and Operations monthly, reviews and reports on plant financial performance; analyzing improvement and work order variance opportunities, making adjustments as needed.
• Works with Engineering and SVP, Operations to create and implement the annual Capital Plan. Efficiently manage the plan and execute as designed.
• Proposes, reviews, and approves plant expenditures for all, including plant capital projects, in accordance with Novipax approval policy.
• Identifies and develops a plant operating plan that is consistent with and supports the business plan/budget.
• Reviews capacity capabilities used in planning, as well as for future business growth. Coordinates review of plant processes and assures process modifications or improvements that result in improved efficiency are implemented.
• Support Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, by working with Director, Supply Chain and Customer Service Manager to optimize service and cost to Novipax and our customers.
• Delivers and reports on KPI improvements; working directly with Continuous Improvement function to streamline and drive performance.
• Assures that the plant is fully compliant with all local, state, and federal regulations with respect to environmental compliance.
• Ensures standards for product quality, equipment and operator performance are maintained and that cost-effective technology is used to maximize production.
• Leads organizational and cultural change to transform into a World Class Manufacturing facility with a proactive, strategic network-focused team with a sense of urgency and accountability.
• Works cross-network with both plant managers and support functions to develop CREW culture and success for total Novipax.
• Supports Plant Continuous Improvement efforts and activities with a focus on Cost Reduction, Scrap Reduction, Capacity improvement.
• Aligns Plant Quality improvement efforts with customer quality and service expectations within industry standards.
• Sets the standards, communicates, and achieves clear and measurable expectations of performance for the operation, as well as direct reports.
• Support and ensure training initiatives for plant employees.
• Develops a culture that leverages customer relationships/satisfaction, encourages active communication across all stakeholders, employee engagement, and talent development.

EDUCATION/SPECIAL SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/TRAINING:

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Finance, or Operations
• 10 - 15 years’ experience in manufacturing environment
• 5 years’ managerial experience with responsibility over multiple functional areas. Experience in start-up or turnaround plants required. Food packaging, fabrication, or processing with SQF required certification, successful track record in safety, quality, and managing P&L including capital projects preferred
• Knowledge of automated packaging equipment, Lean and Preventative Maintenance systems preferred
• Strong commitment to workplace safety, quality, and team mentoring/building
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to translate strategy into executable tactical plans
• Ability to systematically work through problems, can work with deadlines individually or as part of a team.
• Proficiency with MS Office products including Word, Power Point, and Excel are required.
• Ability to travel as required but not expected to be more than five (5%) percent of the time, local and / or domestic.
• Ability to effectively communicate to all levels of the organization
• Must showcase a sense of urgency in which the leader holds their team accountable to Novipax goals and objectives