Division Manager

AMPI owns six Midwest-based manufacturing plants where 10 percent of the nation's American-type cheese, processed cheese and butter is produced. The cooperative's award-winning cheese and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. In 2019, the co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled Cheesemakers.

Responsibilities

This List Of Duties And responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time:

• Leadership & Workforce Engagement
  • Champion a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the division.
  • Inspire and develop high-performing teams through coaching, performance management, and inclusive leadership.
  • Foster a collaborative environment that promotes employee engagement, morale, and retention.
  • Empower frontline leaders to take initiative, solve problems, and drive results aligned with divisional goals.
• Operational Excellence & Business Management
  • Direct all plant operations with a focus on maximizing production efficiency, throughput, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Lead strategic initiatives to streamline processes, reduce waste, and improve overall plant performance.
  • Ensure daily execution aligns with long-term divisional goals and corporate strategy.
  • Adapt quickly to competing demands, shifting priorities, and evolving business conditions.
• Food Quality, Safety & Compliance
  • Oversee quality assurance programs to ensure consistent product excellence and regulatory compliance.
  • Drive food safety initiatives and maintain rigorous standards for sanitation, traceability, and product integrity.
  • Respond to customer feedback and complaints with urgency, transparency, and a commitment to resolution.
• Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement
  • Identify and implement process improvements that enhance productivity and reduce operational costs.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to evaluate technologies, systems, and workflows for optimization.
  • Lead projects with practical, results-driven planning; communicate changes effectively, build commitment, and overcome resistance with confidence and tact.
  • Monitor KPIs and leverage data-driven insights to guide decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Strategic and Financial Leadership
  • Understands business implications of decisions while displaying an orientation to profitability.
  • Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition and aligns