Director of Operations

Director of Operations (Dairy Ingredients)

Hybrid/Remote position with responsibilities at two facilities in Michigan & Minnesota.

Reporting to the VP of Operations, the Director of Operations will oversee and direct the operations and production teams for company’s US operations.

• Monitors and takes necessary action to ensure safe work conditions exist at all PDI U.S. production facilities.
• Responsible for overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of U.S. manufacturing facilities. Keep up-to-date on dairy processes and techniques.
• Identify areas for improvement in the plants, determine courses of action, and implement improvements and corrective actions in these areas.
• Direct operations, distribution, and warehousing in accordance with policies, principles and procedures established by PDI.
• Confer with sales and representatives of associated industries to evaluate and promote growth and efficiency in PDI operations.
• Develop plans for supply and efficient use of materials, machines, and employees.
• Review production costs and product quality, maximize yields, modify production and inventory control programs to maintain and enhance profitable operation of all U.S. Operations.
• Research and assess the viability of new technologies to improve operations.
• Participate in strategic planning process by reviewing PDI operations and recommend budgets for both raw material and capital expenditures.
• Submit necessary requests for capital investment in accordance with established budgets, process, and return‑on‑investment requirements; present capital investment projects to President & CEO and as necessary to the PDI management team.

• Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field
• 5 years of Production/Operations management experience within food processing and/or dairy industry (preferred)
• Knowledge of manufacturing, engineering, and operations principles and ability to apply those principles to production management function.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work with management, R&D, QA, Procurement, Sales and Customer Service as well as with customers and other business contacts.