Director of Operations - Donuts

Carolina Foods, LLC, creator of one of America's first honey buns and the Duchess brand, is a commercial bakery specializing in indulgent sweet baked goods. Founded in 1934 as a sandwich company that expanded after WWII, Carolina Foods introduced honey buns as a complementary product, and today is the third largest honey bun manufacturer in the US.

The company has since expanded its product offering to include doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, pastries and pies. Carolina Foods is growing through its strategic positioning as a high quality, service driven, manufacturing partner for branded and private brands in the sweet baked goods industry and investment in our new state-of-the-art bakery. Carolina Foods at its Core: • Synonymous with culinary innovation, high quality, and superior taste • Industry leading service levels to all core customers • Volume-driven manufacturer • Servicing branded, private label, and co-manufacturing customers with custom formulations

The Director of Operations - Donuts will be accountable for achieving optimal performance for all CF Donut lines. The Director will identify and implement best practices, work closely with Sanitation, Maintenance, Engineering, and Cl to ensure all process equipment is properly cleaned, maintained, and all technologies are supported with qualified technicians. Drive safety, food safety & quality culture consistent with CF goals, and support innovation initiatives as they arise. The Director of Operations - Donuts will be keenly focused on Overall Operating Efficiency, Labor, Yield, and Schedule Compliance.

Responsibilities: • Ensure “Safety as a Condition” is actively achieved (food and people) on a shift-by-shift basis with all team members engaged and in adherence to health and safety regulations, SOP’s, company led trainings, and company policies. • Own the execution and compliance to the weekly production schedule. Collaborate, in advance, with Planning (demand plan) and Supply Chain to ensure all materials are available and the required labor schedule is there to service all orders. • Own the daily analysis of operational performance metrics, identify areas of continuous improvement and implement corrective actions – lead by doing. • Collaborate with peer-to-peer network: Maintenance, Engineering, CI, Quality, Sanitation to address and close gaps in performance (targeted line efficiencies, labor productivity, yield and shared personal KPI’s). • Own the utilization and team member engagement of RedZone through actively leading RedZone huddles, managing the creation and completion of action items, tracking line performance in real-time, and collaborating with Maintenance and Maintenance Planning through RedZone CMMS. • Contribute to the evolution and execution of the company’s strategic and business plans to achieve growth. • Build cross-departmental relationships to ensure actionable information is distributed. • Recruit, develop, coach and lead personnel, constantly raising the standards of performance. Create a team-based environment encouraging open communication and seeking input.

Qualifications and Experience: • A minimum of 10+ years of increasingly responsible experience, and an outstanding record of accomplishment as a manufacturing operations executive with responsibility for high performing teams, 24/7 organizations, KPI achievement and TPM execution. • Senior production/operations leader in food & beverage manufacturing, preferably bakery category, or F&B equipment manufacturer, pharmaceutical or other high-speed, high-volume, highly automated manufacturing facility. • Strong general business acumen and proven experience driving safety, quality, OEE, & yield improvements. • Demonstrated ability to cultivate and lead high performing operating teams in a manufacturing environment and retain/develop the next level of leadership. • Ability to lead from both the front and back while supporting Carolina Foods Vision, Strategy, and Methods • An effective leader, team builder and teammate who is able and willing to roll up his/her sleeves, and dive into the details and be highly entrepreneurial. • Ideally, expert knowledge of bakery systems and highly automated packaging systems. • A relationship builder and a participative leader • Strong EQ – drive for results with rigor and discipline while respecting and appreciating the history and relationships that have propelled Carolina Foods’ sustained success. • A relationship builder, who can partner/collaborate effectively with the COO, Team Directors, and the broader team to ultimately forge strong operating discipline and culture. • Experience with managing a diverse workforce. • Problem solver with demonstrated ability of implementing programs and processes to improve KPIs.

IDEAL PERSONAL PROFILE • Hands-on, willing to engage in the details of the business. • Possesses ability to communicate clearly and logically. • Proven experience implementing change and has the appropriate sense of urgency. • POSITIVE energy, motivated, entrepreneurial. • Constructive, energizing personal style and good communicator. • Make decisions based on knowledge and facts. • Promote the “ownership and accountability” culture at Carolina Foods. • Ability to multi-task, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. • Detail oriented. • Self-confident team player whose ego is under control. • Hands-on, “roll-up-your-sleeves” attitude. • Strong sense of accountability and work ethic. • Well-developed written and verbal communications skills, strong focus on update meetings. • Impeccable personal and professional integrity. • Effective negotiation and conflict management skills with ability to interact both internally and externally.
Leadership Capabilities: • Drive for Results (Drive Execution, Continuously Improve the Core, Reallocate Resources as Needed) • Emphasize safe people, safe products, healthy attitudes • Shape Operational Strategy/ Implementation • Build Talent and Teams (Develop and Motivate Talent, Build and Coach Productive Teams, Strengthen Organizational Capability

Competitive salary and bonus commensurate with relevant experience

Carolina Foods is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.