Assistant Production Superintendent

Who We Are
A producer-owned pork processor, comprised of 200 dedicated Midwest family farms, focused on providing customers with quality pork products they can trust, in a culture that fosters innovation and opportunity.

Summary: The Assistant Superintendent is responsible for leading their respective department(s) through leadership by example, mentoring and training for their subordinate Production Supervisors. The Assistant Superintendent works with various day and night management personnel to develop the most efficient production schedule and ensure it is carried out daily in accordance with our requirements for quality, safety, productivity, yields, and standard cost objectives. Responsible for leading and mentoring all direct reports and may cover for the Superintendent in his/her absence. Responsibilities include maximizing team talent and development, setting goals and performance standards, assessing performance, and assisting in the selection of a competent, diverse workforce while encouraging an inclusive work environment. 

Education, Licensure and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of experience and/or training in a pork production environment required.
• Knowledge of Oracle and AS400 operating systems, Internet, Spreadsheet, Word, Power Point, and Order processing, and Inventory software, preferred.
• Previous food processing experience, supervisory experience, manufacturing knowledge and understanding of yields, plant efficiencies, P&L and operations procedures required.
• Bilingual preferred.

Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be a minimum of 18 years of age and must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following (Please note:  This in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform.  The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.  Other duties may be assigned as deemed necessary and appropriate.):

1. Assist with attaining plant key performance indicators (KPI’s) to include employee safety, food safety, yield standards, labor standards, overtime reduction, foreign material, employee turnover and retention, mechanical delays, cost reduction, and departmental P&L.
2. Assist in providing leadership to all assigned areas to include training and mentoring of all direct reports.  The incumbent must establish and maintain a strong working relationship with the USDA/FDA, and FSQA to ensure that all company and governmental policies and procedures are followed. When daily challenges are encountered the incumbent is responsible for taking action to ensure costs are minimized.  For example, should the USDA/FDA or FSQA tag up product or a line, the incumbent will ensure that they and the Supervisor(s) of the area take immediate action to address the concern, minimize delay time and maximize efficiencies.
3. Maximize effective communication and coordination of activities with other related department working groups to attain daily production goals and schedules. For example, the incumbent will communicate daily with other Superintendents & Assistant Superintendents to ensure full understanding of the production schedule for both the plant and their area.  If challenges with raw materials or scheduling occur in their area, the Assistant Superintendent will work with their supervisors to minimize any customer shortages and maximize raw material usage.
4. The Assistant Superintendent is responsible for competently handling the Superintendents duties in their absence. They must also possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities to fill in for any of the Supervisors reporting to them if necessary. The incumbent will perform either set of duties with minimal supervision and direction.
5. Promote safety in all the areas to reduce accidents, minimize employee injuries and comply with company and government regulations. This includes ensuring their supervisors are completing safety training for their respective department(s) and are addressing potential safety concerns. The incumbent will also investigate any injuries to identify possible causes which could be prevented. For example, the incumbent will coach and guide their staff to actively monitor the production floor and identify potential hazards and take appropriate action to prevent an injury. This may include disciplining an employee for not complying with policies or recommending modifications to a line to reduce the likelihood of an injury.
6. Ensure their direct reports are providing adequate training on all functions in their respected area. This includes Quality Control programs and proper production procedures.  For example, the incumbent will ensure that all management under their supervision understand, follow, and promote the plant SSOP rules as well as the company HACCP plans specific to their manufacturing areas.
7. Identify opportunities for decreasing the variation in processes and products and suggest improvements to existing processes, systems, and procedures, ultimately increasing customer satisfaction.
8. Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities
Provides leadership and guidance to employees on the Production Floor.  Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.  Collaborates cross-functionally with other departments to drive efficiency and completion of key goals and KPI’s. 

Language Skills
Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the language of the majority cultural group in order to communicate effectively.   Must be able to hear enough to understand those individuals as well.  Ability to read, interpret, and comprehend documents such as graphs/flow sheets, financials, general professional articles and publications, governmental regulations, safety rules, assignment sheets, and procedure manuals.  Must be able to write reports, business correspondence, policies and procedures, and other administrative forms as outlined above.   

Must be able to effectively communicate in both individual and group settings.  Must be able to present information and respond to questions from individuals and/or groups including employees, managers, and the general public.  

Mathematical Skills
In order to perform duties, must be able to:

1. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure such as whole numbers, fractions, percentages, and fractions.  
2. Compute rate, discounts, ratios, and percent, and   
3. Ability to read and interpret financial reports, graphs, rates, ratios, and percentages.

Reasoning Ability                
Ability to apply common sense and judgment in solving problems and interpreting and understanding instructions furnished in written or oral form.  Must be able to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action yet reason when to involve supervisor.   

Computer Skills
Basic computer knowledge with the ability to learn software.

Other Skills and Abilities            

1. Display strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deal with frequent interruptions.
2. Basic office skills such as phone skills, voice mail, copying, faxing, typing, and directing visitors.
3. Ability to function independently given assigned duties and capable of working cross-functionally with other departments.   
4. Able to lead problem solving and troubleshooting efforts associated with high-level process issues.
5. Ability to motivate, train and coach employees to encourage optimum performance and engagement.
6. Good planning and priority setting skills.
7. Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
8. Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
9. Ability to work in varying production environments (heat and cold).
10. May be required to work long hours and weekends.
11. Ability to provide leadership and guidance to employees on the Production Floor.

Physical Demands and Work Environment
The work environment characteristics & physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.   

The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non-weather related), extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals.  Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud when in the production area.  Occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.  Frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.

We offer a competitive benefits package which includes:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Company matching Retirement Plan
• Paid time off
• Short term and long term disability
• Referral program
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Plans

Wholestone Farms is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, gender, gender orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.