Production Manager

Job Summary: This position is responsible for ensuring that manufacturing processes run safely, reliably, and efficiently. This individual collaborates with cross-functional groups including Human Resources, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehousing, and Finance to meet production targets.   Essential Functions of the Job: Manages production employees to ensure safety, quality, and productivity. Motivating and supporting current staff. Supporting strategic objectives Strong decision-making skills and a result-driven approach. Conducts new hire onboarding and training and conducts performance evaluations as needed. Ensures we are meeting retention KPIs. Planning and organizing employee schedules, to align with demand requirements. Achieves budgeted targets for raw material yield, labor, and packaging materials usage across all shifts meeting KPI’s. Schedule and conduct production meetings with direct reports. Meet or exceed schedule attainment and adherence KPIs. Audits workstations to ensure SOPS are readily available and are being followed routinely – initiates creation of SOPs and other instructional tools as needed. Collaborate with the warehouse and quality assurance personnel to ensure prompt shipment of the product. Meet or exceed OTIF KPI’s. Maintain GMP/Housekeeping to the highest standards within the department through the involvement of all team members. Adheres to company GMP’s, food safety procedures and all other quality processes. Always maintain an audit ready shop floor. Develops and recommends improvements of facilities, equipment, or procedures to improve safety, quality, and efficiency. Drives productivity, quality, and safety initiatives throughout production to impact productivity and the cost structure. Establish and support a work environment of continuous improvement that supports the companies Quality policy, Quality System & the appropriate regulations for the area. Ensures production follows SunOpta QA standards, SOPs, HACCP, and GMPs. Committed to ensure that the products produced meet all food safety and quality requirements. Collaborate with cross-functional groups including Human Resources, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Warehousing, and Finance to meet production targets. Communicate and execute the production schedule. Manage labor and material resources to maximize efficiency and yields. Protect company assets by the direct intervention of any condition resulting in the abuse of equipment or buildings. Works with management to ensure effective organizational design and that roles are correctly organized, defined, documented, and communicated to all employees. Responsible for Food Safety and reporting any non-compliance issues to their immediate supervisor and Quality leadership. Certified member of the Health & Safety Committee. Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required. All other duties as assigned.   Supervisory Responsibilities: Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of all Production Supervisors, and indirectly for all hourly production personnel.   Minimum Qualifications: Certificate and/or bachelor’s degree in related fields of study preferred. Minimum of five consecutive years of related work experience required. Strong working knowledge of systems including a prominent level of instrumentation and automation experience. MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel.   Preferred Qualifications: Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing practices. Experience with Oracle or similar ERP system.   Knowledge & Skills: Outstanding verbal, written, multi-tasking and presentation skills. Ability to create momentum and foster organizational change. Possess strong technical skills. Project Management skills. Skills related to leadership, people, and teamwork. Confident, organized, efficient. Ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and make decisions.   Additional Considerations: This position will be at the SunOpta Plant in Omak, WA. This Plant is a 24/7 operation with 3 shifts. Non-conventional work week which will include occasional off-shift work to provide support to all teams. Relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.