ViskoTeepak is a world leader in sales and manufacturing cellulose, fibrous and plastic casings for the food industry. With our 6 manufacturing and converting plants and our 5 sales offices around the world we employ around 1100 people. ViskoTeepak’s core values are Trust, Ambition & Fun.
Trust is built on credibility, being fair and treating each other with respect. We earn trust by delivering on our promises, which is particularly true for how we manage our business and our people. We have a strong desire to be the best and want to be Ambitious on our road to success Fun is created by being successful in achieving your goals and by working with a team of people that you trust and feel connected to. It creates the energy that we need for taking on the next challenge!
Title: Operations Manager
Reports To: Plant Director
Direct Reports: ShiftSupervisors and Production Staff.
Location: Kenosha, WI
Shift and Specific Hours: Flexible - must be able to support three shifts as needed
Position Summary:
This role is a key partner to the Plant Director by providing day-to-day leadership and direction to manufacturing operations and being the liaison between the plant and cross-functional business partners. The Plant Operations Manager executes at a high level, safely, and in a manner that optimizes manufacturing costs while meeting company product quality/outputs to standards.
Zero Defects mind set.
Essential Functions:
- Provide leadership to the plant in all areas of responsibility including and not limited to receiving, converting, packaging, quality, maintenance, and storage/distribution.
- Support plant leadership in overseeing the overall activities of the manufacturing facilities of the plant to ensure all orders are planned, scheduled, produced, and shipped on and meet company and customer quality standards.
- Incorporate and foster continuous improvement by developing metrics with plant employees to determine the root cause of non-conformity with formulations or production planning; identify corrective measures to reduce waste (time and materials) in the plant; recommend preventative maintenance requirements to guarantee safe and efficient operation of equipment.
- Ensures that appropriate SOPs are developed, executed and maintained for all aspects of our business.
- Act as the facility safety and process advocate in conjunction with other leadership.
- Leads the operations team by overseeing recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, and performance management processes, including conducting performance evaluations and addressing disciplinary matters.
- Act as the main point of contact for vendors and regulatory agencies.
- Participate in the annual plant review of Safe Quality Foods (SQF) system, internal audit/schedule.
- Coordinate SQF type Root Cause / Corrective Actions activities between Operations and Quality Assurance.
- Presents annual forecasts for cost, investments, capacity and headcount, target setting for operational performance, technical development proposals to the Plant Director.
- Maintain a positive work environment for all employees by following our policies, practices and core values.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
- Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar role within food manufacturing or food packaging with demonstrated success in leading production teams and driving operational excellence.
- Strong understanding of conversion or packaging production processes, equipment, and technology, with the ability to troubleshoot issues and implement solutions.
- Proven leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and empower employees to achieve common goals. Experience in performance management, coaching, and talent development.
- Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to communicate clearly and collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders.
- An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and adapt to changing priorities and business needs.
- Thorough knowledge of food safety regulations such quality standards (e.g., GMP, HACCP), and industry best practices.
- Strong business acumen, with a focus on achieving targets for production output, quality, cost control, and customer satisfaction.
- Proactive approach to identifying challenges and implementing effective solutions to improve processes and performance.
- The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker, hands-on leader, and collaborative team player, with a passion for production and a commitment to excellence.
- Proficiency in MS Office and ERP/MRP systems.
- Manage existing machine improvement projects.
- Ongoing operations process review for continuous improvement using lean principles.
- Train/Coach/Mentor employees at all levels of the organization on the tools and methods that support a continuous improvement culture. Coordinate the development of an organization-wide training plan and execute as planned
Physical Requirements:
- This position requires long periods of standing and frequent walking.
- The ability to sit for long periods of time for meetings.
Environmental Conditions:
- Air-conditioned/heated facility with adequate lighting.
- Personal protective equipment: hearing protection is required and provided.
