Director of Rendering

About the role

Farmers Union Industries, LLC, also known as FUI, is seeking a Director of Rendering to oversee our Central Bi-Products, Northland Choice, and Midwest Grease divisions in Long Prairie, Waite Park, Redwood Falls, MN, and Estherville, IA. The role offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, vision, PTO, paid holidays, an impressive 401K match, and more. The schedule is Monday-Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, with the possibility of remote work from the corporate office in Redwood Falls, MN.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee the daily operations of FUI’s rendering, pet food ingredient, and used cooking oil divisions;
• Develop and implement strategies that align with company goals and growth initiatives;
• Establish performance metrics and monitor production efficiency, yield, downtime, profitability, cost control, safety, and quality;
• Develop and manage operational budgets; identify ways to reduce costs and improve margins;
• Support capital planning, facility expansions, equipment upgrades, and operational improvement projects;
• Oversee the Complex Managers of each location; guide and provide advice on production processes and schedules and adherence to customer specifications and expectations to ensure high levels of consistency and excellence;
• Develop team members, conduct performance reviews, support workforce training programs, and consider succession planning initiatives;
• Champion a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement;
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, USDA, FDA, state environmental, and other applicable regulatory agencies; steward environmental programs related to wastewater, air emissions, odor control, waste management, and sustainability;
• Lead environmental incident investigations, corrective actions, and risk mitigation efforts;
• Remain current on developments in manufacturing including, but not limited to, new technology and changes in regulations;
• Maintain oversight of maintenance initiatives, fleet/transportation operations, food safety and quality certifications, and other areas of the business, as needed;
• Collaborate with C-Suite Leadership and other FUI Directors to identify areas of strategic growth and expansion; develop strong relationships with external industry leaders and other partners;
• Travel between Long Prairie, Waite Park, Redwood Falls, MN, and Estherville, IA plants, as necessary (percentage of annual travel will vary depending on base location).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in operations management, engineering, industrial technology, business administration, agriculture, animal science, or related field, preferred; MBA or advanced degree, a plus;
• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience in animal by-product processing, pet food ingredient manufacturing, food processing, biofuels, waste management, or related industries;
• Minimum 5 years in a senior leadership role with multi-site responsibility;
• Demonstrated experience managing complex manufacturing and logistics operations;
• Strong financial acumen, budgeting, and P&L management;
• Prowess in analytical, problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills;
• Familiarity with USDA, FDA, OSHA, EPA, HACCP, GMP, and SQF regulations;
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite; experience with ERP systems, operational reporting tools, and performance management systems;
• Work in a facility that processes multiple species including cows, pigs, and poultry.

Physical Requirements

• Perform desk work (sitting or standing) for up to 100% of workday;
• Repetitively use wrist, hand, and/or fingers.