Regional Vice President, Manufacturing (Irvine, CA, US, 92618) bei Ventura Foods

Position Summary:

The Vice President of Manufacturing will lead and oversee all aspects of multiple manufacturing and distribution facilities to achieve company profit and growth objectives. Key focus is on assuring a safe work environment, delivering on food safety and quality, achieving customer service requirements, driving a high-performing, people-centered culture, ensuring effective budget management, and championing continuous improvement processes and programs.  Develops and executes budgets, strategic plans, and tactical plans to meet and drive company objectives, while adhering to company policies and procedures in addition to all federal, state, and local statutes. 

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages and controls assets to achieve and improve cost objectives while meeting or exceeding customer's expectations with the major cost areas being labor, oil, ingredients, and plant overhead expenses.
• Encourages and guides employee participation in the development of ideas that support "best practices", process improvement, cost reduction and improved efficiency.  Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and establish data-driven decision-making processes to enhance efficiency. Ensure plants are executing to the Edge Operating System.
• Prepares, implements, and manages capital and operating budgets timely and effectively.  Oversee capital projects, including facility expansions, equipment upgrades, and automation implementation.
• Provides direction and leadership to ensure that Ventura Foods food safety, human safety and environmental compliance standards are met to maintain high product standards and food safety protocols.
• Inspire, motivate, and lead plant and operations leaders, fostering a culture of accountability and performance excellence.
• Monitor and maintain a strong-talent pipeline through a robust workforce planning process that incorporates a review of recruitment, training, and development actions and results.
• Ensures strong partnership with all relevant departments and stakeholders to ensure the successful introduction / integration of new customers and products. Provides leadership and direction to attain the highest levels of customer service and customer satisfaction.
• Integrates global initiatives into plant specific responsibilities. Responsible for relevant HQ initiatives and plans, and ensures plants are operating in alignment with company vision and objectives.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field or equivalent experience is required.
• 10+ years food manufacturing experience in increasing higher levels of management is required.
• Advanced financial acumen with experience managing budgets, optimizing workforce and working capital is required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large teams and complex operations successfully is required.
• Experience in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen is required.
• Ability to travel 50% is required.
• TQM or LSS Black Belt certifications are very helpful.
• Large CPG manufacturing experience highly desired.
• Advance degree is preferred.
• Being bilingual is a plus.
• Prior experience maintaining positive employee relations highly preferred.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated high level of knowledge and skills relating to plant sanitation, GMP's, food manufacturing equipment and processes primarily related to oil products.  
• High level of business savvy and ability to deal with daily facility problems, longer-term strategic planning, and with the highest levels of management (internal and external). 
• Good working knowledge of product formulas, costing, and experience in bringing R&D endeavors to fruition. 
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire cross-functional teams. 
• Possess personal characteristics which include leadership, team building, being able to aggressively manage change, and skilled at handling employee disputes and maintaining good employee morale.