Packaging Team Manager

The ASR Group® family of companies make up the world's largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar. The companies produce a full line of grocery, industrial, foodservice and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group® companies operate five sugar refineries, located in California, Maryland, Louisiana, Canada and Mexico. In Europe, ASR Group® companies operate sugar refineries in the United Kingdom, Portugal, and, with a joint venture partner, Italy. The companies also farm sugarcane and own sugar mills in Mexico and Belize. The ASR Group® portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Florida Crystals®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle's®, Sidul® and Whitworths®. ASR Group® companies also produce and market Tellus®, a single-use, compostable tableware and foodservice product made from plant fibers, including sugarcane.

OVERVIEW

The function of the Packaging Team Manager is to provide leadership and technical support to direct, facilitate, and coordinate the performance, development, and improvement of the overall operation. This position has the responsibility FOR establishing AND maintaining a capable, continuously improving, high quality work force with focus on improving plant equipment reliability, quality, safety, process, and efficiency at the lowest sustainable cost. This manager must ensure the team meets or exceeds daily production goals for volume, quality and employee safety.


PRODUCTION / EMPLOYEE LEADERSHIP

• Manages and leads a team of supervisors to deliver quality and quantity of production to meet demand.
• Analyze production data from Redzone and PowerBI and implement strategies to improve performance
• Track and report KPIs, including OEE, Waste, Labor Utilization, Downtime, and Safety metrics
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction through process optimization
• Manage departmental budgets and control COGS
• Lead, coach, and develop production supervisors and provide ongoing feedback
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement and communicate clear performance expectations
• Oversee production employee across all shifts to ensure each shift has the necessary trained employees to run required lines. Balance skills across shifts to meet production requirements.
• Manage the skills matrix and coordinate the training and up-skilling of the production employees to meet current and future production needs.

• Attend daily huddle meetings to ensure they are delivering robust play calls and communicate priorities
• Manage employee performance, attendance, overtime coverage, and disciplinary actions as required

• Follow Standard Work to achieve production result through employee leadership in a unionized environment

DETAILED ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Directs Production resources and collaborate with the maintenance team to meet all safety, quality, production, health and environmental regulations.
• Ensure the development of sound predictive and preventative maintenance programs which will reduce unplanned shutdowns and continuously improve plant reliability, profitability and product quality.
• Partners with support functions (i.e. Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, etc.) to meet production demands
• Develops or revises standard operational and working practices

• Conducts regular shift meetings regarding safety, production, quality and other important information.
• Conducts training, monitoring and evaluating employee performance and implementing recommendations to improve employee performance.

Continuous Improvement

• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives
• Lead continuous improvement projects focusing on OEE, throughput, and waste reduction
• Drive problem-solving methodologies, including Root Cause Analysis, 5 Whys, A3 problem solving, and Fishbone diagrams
• Promote a culture of operational excellence and employee engagement

WORK EXPERIENCES

• Experience in a technical role required (maintenance, engineering and/or operations)
• Minimum of 3-5 years of related management experience, including overseeing supervisors and managing a multi-departmental manufacturing/ production operation.

• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices is required

• Food or beverage production experience strongly preferred.
• Experience designing and driving process improvement in a food (or similar) manufacturing environment

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from a 4-year college or university required.
• Continuous Improvement or quality certification(s) strongly preferred.
• Industrial electric background, computer, PLC programming, mechanical troubleshooting preferred

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES)

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Interpersonal - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Team Work - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed; Recognizes accomplishments of other team members.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Aligns work with strategic goals.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

Manager (of people and/or function):

• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change; Monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Delegation - Delegates work assignments; Matches the responsibility to the person; Gives authority to work independently; Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities; Provides recognition for results.
• Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Inspires respect and trust; Accepts feedback from others; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates; Gives appropriate recognition to others; Displays passion and optimism; Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision.
• Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for subordinates' activities; Makes him/herself available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); Fosters quality focus in others; Improves processes, products and services; Continually works to improve supervisory skills.

LOCATION OF ROLE

• Chalmette, LA

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.