Vice President of Operations

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, waste water 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. 

Essential Functions:

Department Activities

• 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

 Training and Development

• 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

Leadership

• 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

 Core Competencies and Skill Requirements:

• 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, calculus, statistics and their applications
  • Knowledge of a variety of engineering topics including mechanics, thermodynamics, hydraulics and heat transfer
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology, including applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of sugar
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings and models
  • Knowledge of tools and machines, including their designs, uses, repair and maintenance
• Superior understanding of and commitment to safety, quality, and the environment
  • Ability to work together to promote a zero-lost time workforce with 100% environmental compliance and commitment to uncompromising quality
  • Ability to work in a responsible, safe manner by adhering to SMBSC’s policies and procedures
  • Ability to provide guidance and expert advice to employees and other groups based on technical, systems-related or process-related topics
• Broad understanding of environmental laws and regulations
  • Ability to evaluate information to determine compliance using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations and standards
  • Ability to keep up-to-date with changes to regulations and standards and applying the new knowledge to benefit SMBSC
  • Ability to provide guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-related or process-related topics
• Proficient analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Ability to gather information by observing, receiving and obtaining information from all relevant sources
  • Ability to identify trends, patterns and anomalies with data to draw conclusions and make recommendations for current and future needs
  • Ability to quantify the characteristics of products and materials used at the Company, which includes estimating sizes and quantities or determining time, costs, resources or materials needed to perform a work activity
  • Ability to inspect equipment, structures or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems and defects
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with internal and external audiences and maintain these relationships over time to advance the overall public image of SMBSC
  • Ability to document information in a logical, sequential manner which includes entering, transcribing, recording, storing and maintaining information
  • Ability to maintain high attention to detail
• Strong conflict management and resolution skills
  • Ability to handle complaints, settle disputes and resolve grievances and conflicts; negotiate with external audiences
  • Ability to maintain a high level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations

 Desired Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Business Administration preferred but not necessary based on experience
• 15-20 years of experience in the manufacturing
• 5-10 years of experience working as a Factory Manager