Vice President of Operations

Job Details Description Summary of Position

The Vice President of Operations (VPO) is responsible for providing strategic and tactical leadership and oversight for Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative’s (SMBSC) operations, including engineering, safety, wastewater treatment plant, environmental affairs, and research and technical services departments, maintenance, supply chain, and activities. The VPO will serve as a valued member of the executive leadership team and function as a strategic and operational partner.

The VPO helps SMBSC reach the overall mission by (1) helping to determine the future direction and goals of the organization, (2) leading implementation efforts, and (3) ensuring the company’s financial health and its ability to create long-term shareholder value.

• Oversees operations departments to plan, organize, and direct employees to run optimum day-to-day operations to meet the company’s budgetary needs and goals as well as the customer’s demand without compromising safety, quality, and environmental compliance.
• Develops, monitors, implements, and evaluates strategies in alignment with strategic initiatives, safety, quality, and environmental compliance to provide a clear sense of direction and focus.
• Monitors operations and assists managers and supervisors to trigger corrective actions.
• Develops systems and processes to track and optimize productivity, standards, metrics, and performance targets to ensure maximum production at minimum cost; communicates results to a variety of audiences including the SMBSC Board of Directors (BOD).
• Works with legal team to respond to environmental, safety, and quality issues.
• Works with management team to negotiate Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Works closely with the CEO and BOD to develop and implement operational strategies that drive results, maximize revenues, minimize expenses, and mitigate risk.

• Coaches, develops, monitors and evaluates Executive Director of Continuous Process Improvement and Product Development and the Executive Director of Risk; assists with goal setting; and sets employment expectations through personal and employee accountability.
• Assists direct reports to coach, develop, and mentor their team members, which includes providing resources to increase individual knowledge, conducting regular reviews evaluating performance, working with employees to mitigate opportunities for improvement, and building employee development plans to assist employees in progressing their careers.

• Offers leadership by strengthening internal communications with staff at all levels throughout the Company; creates and promotes a positive and supportive work environment that promotes housekeeping and safety.
• Serves on leadership committees aimed at creating an Employer of Choice culture.
• Oversees and approves the formulation of annual operating and capital budgets for operations departments; recommends and maintains budgeting allocation for needs based on SMBSC’s established financial guidelines and business planning process.
• Advises the Executive Team about technical issues related to existing business and ensures compliance with safety, quality, and environmental-related items.
• Provides subject matter expertise on operations topics to Executive Team, the SMBSC BOD and other vested partners.
• Attends staff and board meetings as necessary.
• Maintains memberships and affiliations with trade and/or professional organizations related to the company.

• Expert understanding of factory operations including production and maintenance
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo.
  • Knowledge of algebra, geometry,…