Plant Operations Manager

About the role

AMPI owns six Midwest-based manufacturing plants where 10 percent of the nation's American-type cheese and processed cheese 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

• All AMPI employees have an obligation to report employee safety, food safety and food quality issues to personnel of authority.
• This position has a heightened food safety and food quality responsibilities.
• Monitor quality specifications for milk, whey, and cheese production with awareness of customer expectations.
• Maintain accurate and complete production records and charts.
• Play an active role to inspect, review, and follow up on all plant and department audits.
• Drive continuous improvement for the plant's SQF Level 2 program while serving as backup SQF practitioner.
• Leads and guides all quality, GMP, and food safety policies and procedures, reporting any nonconformity.
• Must have a working knowledge of all equipment and processes and procedures to reduce downtime, reduce costs, and increase efficiency while meeting production deadlines.
• Continually work with the cheese and whey department supervisors to reduce under-grade product.
• Works within approved budget while developing and implementing cost saving measures which will contribute to overall profits and revenue to the organization.
• Understands business implications of decisions while displaying an orientation to profitability.
• Implement, and enforce SOPs for each piece of equipment and all processes.
• Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of plant operations.
• Carries 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.
• Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement.
• Makes oneself available to staff, provides regular performance feedback, develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth.
• Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals and adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Manages competing demands and changes approach or method to best fit the situation.
• Identifies and resolves problems in...