Director - Manufacturing - Food Sector

The Client: An organization in the food sector.

Your Role:

- Requires you to bring a potent combination of strategic, intellectual, and cultural agility. You must have experience in leading greenfield projects and expansion of brownfield projects. You would oversee all aspects of production operations in the factory, ensuring efficient and high-quality manufacturing processes.

- You will be crucial in optimizing production output, managing resources, implementing process improvements, and maintaining a safe and compliant working environment.

- Production Planning and Optimization, Ensure effective utilization of resources, including equipment, materials, and labour, to maximize output.

- Quality Assurance and Compliance, Ensure compliance with industry regulations, quality standards, and food safety guidelines.

- Process Improvement and Innovation. Identify process improvement, automation, and innovation opportunities to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve product quality.

- To optimize operations and drive efficiency, lead and support continuous improvement initiatives, such as Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma. Team Management and Development, Lead and manage a team of manufacturing professionals, including supervisors, technicians, and operators.

- Provide guidance, coaching, and support to team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development. Set performance objectives, conduct performance evaluations, and implement training programs to enhance team capabilities. \

- Supply Chain and Inventory Management, collaborate with the supply chain team to ensure the timely availability of raw materials and packaging materials for production.

- Cost Management, Monitor manufacturing costs, identify areas of cost reduction, and implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising quality and safety.

- Collaborate with other departments, such as Engineering, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, and Supply Chain, to streamline operations, resolve issues, and drive overall business success.

- Participate in cross-functional meetings, provide insights, and contribute to strategic decision-making.

Must-Have:

- Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).

- Proven experience 15+ years) in manufacturing management, preferably in the dairy or food industry.

- Strong knowledge of dairy production processes, equipment, and quality standards. Demonstrated expertise in process improvement methodologies, such as Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma.

- Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop teams.

- Sound understanding of health and safety regulations and practices in a manufacturing environment. Proficient in data analysis, performance metrics, and production planning tools.

- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make data-driven decisions.

- Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.

- The results-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.