Process Operations Manager

Overview

At Eagle Foods we are builders.  We are builders of brands, categories, and people.  Eagle Foods enjoys a rich heritage with brands that have proven category leadership for more than 150 years.  Eagle is a diversified food company producing and marketing sweetened condensed and evaporated milk, snacks and convenient meal solutions products.  As a company, Eagle Foods is passionate about fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that boldly builds better people and better brands while focusing on the positive impact our company, our products and our people have on the world.  Eagle Foods has a bold family of brands that consumers have come to rely on for decades, including Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk and Evaporated Milk, Magnolia® Sweetened Condensed Milk, PET® Milk, Popcorn Indiana, Cretors Popcorn, Helper and Suddenly Salad.  Eagle Foods products are marketed and distributed across all U.S. retail channels, including grocery stores, club stores and mass-merchandisers, as well as foodservice and export, U.S. military, and private label business.

Responsibilities

Job Description Summary

The Process Operations Manager will report to the Plant Director. They are responsible for ensuring the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of operations while managing resources, improving processes, and implementing strategies for continuous improvement. This position will analyzing workflows, identifying bottlenecks, streamlining processes, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations and company standards. In addition, The Process Operations Manager collaborates with cross-functional teams to meet performance goals and targets, all while ensuring cost-effectiveness, safety, and a high level of customer satisfaction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with local, state and federal food safety guidelines, GMP’s and PMO requirements for facility
• Participates in plant QA Systems (SQMS Key Element supporter) and HSE systems
• Ensure that quality issues are reported to management
• Responsible for development, administration, and communication of team scorecards in collaboration with operating teams
• Coordinates skill set training as appropriate for the operating teams
• Ensures that quality issues are reported to management immediately
• Accountable for meeting production goals set during the shift schedule
• Acts as liaison between hourly technicians and operations manager
• Accountable for the proper receiving, processing, and packaging of products, including any and all documentation
• Directs and reports the usage of packaging materials, raw milk, sugar, soybean oil, and other minor ingredients and makes recommendations to reduce variances
• Works closely Packaging Manager & Logistics Manager to lock in production schedules
• Controls cost and minimize loss related to material consumption, including all packaging materials
• Ensures all production PM’s scheduled are completed effectively by deadline
• Utilizes SQMS tools to ensure facility goals are attained (root cause analysis, autonomous maintenance, confined space, etc.)
• Lead and communicate troubleshooting efforts between all departments when issues arise
• Interprets and ensures consistent application of organizational policies and safety regulations with Operations department
• Works with operating teams to identify and drive out production losses and improve throughout
• Food Safety Responsibilities
• Performs other duties as required and assigned

Qualifications

Qualifications and Competencies

• College Degree – Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering/Food Science preferred
• 5+ years of experience in process management, operations management, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in a leadership or managerial role.
• Strong understanding of process optimization techniques (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen).
• Excellent knowledge of production systems, quality control, and operational processes.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to present ideas clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work a problem from problem statement development thru root cause identification and systemic corrective action implementation
• Can apply and teach general manufacturing processes and practices to the team; experience in manufacturing processes preferred, with dairy industry focus.
• Understands how the milk processing line operates and its key components
• Understands and can apply sanitation practices and procedures in accordance to PMO and internal polices. Operate the computer based control system for CIP procedures.
• Able to continually focus on multiple tasks at hand.  Understands how to prioritize to meet the needs of the day
• Able to work all required shifts