SUMMARY:  This leader has strategic oversight and leadership required to operate and maintain a 975,000 square foot animal protein production facility which includes a 195,00-pound ammonia system, 32-million-gallon wastewater treatment facility, and a rendering and steam generation operation.  Lead activities which requires the ability to manage through the unpredictability of operational issues. Must effectively interface routinely with peers.   

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  This list is not intended to be all-inclusive and other duties may be assigned. 

• Ensure all rendering and wastewater processes run in accordance with all local, state, and federal regulations.  

• Develop and implement operational strategies to maximize productivity, efficiency, and quality in all areas of responsibility. 

• Manage the operation and maintenance of a large-scale ammonia refrigeration system, boiler/steam generation system and plant utilities network. 

• Monitor and maintain the performance of the rendering equipment, ensure optimal functionality, and minimize downtime. 

• Key stakeholder in selection, on-boarding, training, and development of team members engaged in all levels of rendering and wastewater activity. 

• Be familiar with OSHA and Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA) regulations and work with FSQA to receive, evaluate and report work needed to keep the plant running in accordance with government and organization requirements. 

• Create and foster a culture that promotes safety as a top priority, ensure team members are trained on an on-going basis and in compliance with regulations to ensure work is completed in a safe manner and to avoid work related accidents. 

• Develop a high performing team driven by solid talent identification, development and succession planning which will support expansion. 

• Foster an environment of continuous process improvement to drive efficiencies, increased accuracy, and stronger decision making.  

• Collaborate with the leadership team, providing input for strategic direction and business planning. 

• Diagnosing downtime causes and reasons for equipment failure and develop strategies to eliminate through the improvement of reliability and safety of the plant, personnel and production processes.   

• Establishing and implementing short and long-range organizational goals, objectives, policies and operating procedures 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the work environment, knowledge, skill, and/or ability required or preferred.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: A bachelor’s degree in Engineering or eight or more years of progressively responsible positions in manufacturing, including supervisory experience.  Experience in food manufacturing desired.  Formal ammonia refrigeration training and certifications preferred. Familiar with boiler and cooling tower chemical treatment programs. Well-developed management skills utilizing sound management principles in leading a large team of employees. Ability to and experience in the development of capital funding requests and leading projects.  

Proven experience managing compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations (e.g., EPA, OSHA, Clean Water Act). 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and/or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from management, and employees.  Must have the ability to influence and persuade others. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents in the English language such as safety files, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Must be able to effectively communicate with the USDA, customers, sales, production and management personnel. Bilingual skills a plus. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to apply mathematical applications to practical situations. 

REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical, diagram, written and/or verbal form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Certified Wastewater operator (State specific requirements). Certification in Hazardous Waste Management or similar environmental programs. Professional Engineer (PE) license or other industry related certifications is a plus.