Plant Technical Manager

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At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis Midwest Yogurt, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Plant Technical Manager based in Reed City, MI.

This is an opportunity to become Plant Technical Manager in the largest yogurt manufacturing plant in North America.

The Plant Technical Manager (PTM) is responsible for providing the technical expertise and technical leadership to deliver results for the plant and the businesses it supports. The PTM is responsible for direct leadership of the engineers on site and has accountability for Maintenance. This role will provide critical technical leadership for major capital projects and ensure active team members have solutions needed to drive safety, quality and performance plans, while focusing on eliminating waste and losses.

This role reports directly to the site Plant Manager and has dotted line to the Industrial Leader.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

Leadership

* Development of site strategic plan for technical staffing, capital investment, general competencies, and system/technology improvements
* Coaching, mentoring, and development of plant technical resources
* Accountability for management of external technical relationships with A/E firms, contractors, and equipment vendors
* Provide technical leadership and site compliance with EPA and OSHA requirements in concert with designated functional experts
* Provide site leadership to achieve maximization/optimization of capital assets and site utilization as well as lead safety initiatives in technical areas
* Champion progression to zero loss using the tools, processes, and standards per our Continuous Improvement framework

Capital Planning & Execution

* Develop short- term and long-range capital investment plans for facility and be accountable for the planning and execution of all projects
* Responsible for the capital investment process for the site (e.g. standards, project management, capital approval, etc.).

Vertical Start Up/Continuous Improvement/Zero Loss Culture

* Develop and support strategies that integrate Vertical Start Up, Continuous Improvement processes and mentality and focus on waste elimination

Master Plan
* Provide leadership and technical expertise to help deliver on business objectives.
* Provide site leadership for technical solutions to operational problems including systems optimization, debottlenecking, and troubleshooting.
* Accountable for the strategy, design and implementation of control systems and manufacturing information systems.

Maintenance & Reliability

* Coach and develop Maintenance and Facilities Manager to integrate Maintenance into Zero Loss Culture. Provide strategy and support for maintenance programs, development of tools and resources, personnel selection, training and development. Integrate Maintenance into the strategy for the broader technical community at the plant
- Ensure the proper selection, training, development and motivation of leaders to maximize current and future performance.
- Lead and support plant continuous improvement initiatives.

- Contribute as an integral part of a senior plant leadership team to drive the plant strategy and culture.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

* Degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
* Experience directly leading maintenance teams
* Experience directly leading a team of engineers
* Experience with industrial and/or labor relations from working in a manufacturing environment.
* Knowledge of and experience with manufacturing improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma, TPM, Continuous Improvement, Zero Loss Culture, or Lean Manufacturing

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.