About Us

Foremost Farms USA, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, is a world-class supplier of cheese, dairy products, and ingredients to national and international markets. As a dairy cooperative, we are owned by the 1,100 dairy farmers who supply our high-quality milk. Our flexible, diverse plant network allows us to manufacture products and ingredients that are most in-demand – and provide a strong, secure market for our member-owners’ milk.

We’re looking for employees who challenge the status quo, innovate and aim for excellence. Because we’re working to be the world’s best – to Be Foremost – we’ll bring out the best in you.

About This Opportunity

JOB TITLE: Operations Manager
POSITION TYPE: Full time
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

Regular business hours with on call work.

JOB TITLE: Operations Manager

LOCATION: Richland Center, WI

REPORTS TO: Plant Director

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for achieving an optimal balance of safety, quality, service, and efficiency in order to achieve operational excellence at assigned manufacturing location, in accordance with company policies and procedures. Position oversees all day-to-day production and is heavily involved with employee engagement and development of team members.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be a high performer in time management and process controls. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice. The essential functions of this job include, but are not limited to:

• This role functions as the backup and second in command role for a high-volume flagship plant, working under the Plant Director. Responsible for keeping your finger on the pulse of the plant, at all times.
• Keeping constant communication with the Plant Director, this position will run the daily operations of the facility.
• Responsible for development of Production Managers and Supervisors to create a stable Operations team with depth.
• Drive results and compliance with management operating systems (SCORE) to engage the plant team and drive results in safety, quality, service, value, and teamwork in a positive way through people while ensuring compliance with regulatory compliance requirements.
• Builds and drives a strong safety excellence culture across all shifts.
• Drive First Pass Quality results across reduces losses and downgrades as well as minimizing customer complaints.
• Assisting in developing and appropriately implementing operational plans, policies, and practices to meet, quality, food safety, capacity goals, service, and financial/cost/budget expectations.
• Supports aligning all manufacturing-related activities appropriately to meet plant corporate supply chain requirements.
• Leads achieving the desired culture of employee engagement, building optimum employee relations, supporting onboarding, training, training programs, development, and retention of employees while obtaining employee safety goals and food safety excellence.
• Develops a team and a process to continuously improve methods, equipment performance, utilization of people, and quality of product and safety objectives.
• Delegates duties to Operations team to address and resolve problems regarding production, quality, and work problems as appropriate.
• Acting as liaison with appropriate corporate support functions in achieving the desired culture of employee engagement.
• Works with corporate functions in ensuring compliance in accordance with all applicable regulatory agencies, such as OHSA, FDA, USDA, and EPA.
• Being responsible for food safety.
• Regular and punctual attendance and physical presence in the workplace.
• Timely and accurate completion of duties. Occasional travel for work.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

The following are required competencies of the position that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job:

• Computer Skills: Ability to operate all information technology related business systems, programs and applications in a manner that achieves efficiency, accuracy, and relevancy of information processing and reporting as it applies to this position.
• Leadership Skills: Must have strong delegation skills and the confidence to make difficult decisions. Ability to maintain a calm demeanor in stressful situations. Ability to develop teams and resolve conflict. Efficient and accurate communication skills.
• Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret business and financial documents. Ability to process routine reports and correspondences. Ability to communicate effectively with employees and applicants of the organization. Ability to effectively present information to other employees of the organization.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to correctly add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to correctly compute rate, ratio, and percent.

• Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to develop, formulate strategy and exercise good judgment.
• Other Skills & Abilities: Requires the ability to operate a variety of standard business machines. Position must have the ability to drive a motor vehicle and maintaining a valid driver’s license. Must have strong leadership/mentoring skills; strong financial and business acumen; strong creativity and innovative skills; be results oriented with day-to-day management skills; proficient Lean Six Sigma concepts; have excellent interpersonal communication skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Demands – Employee is frequently (more than 75% of time) required to: use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls, sit; to verbally communicate; and to hear. The employee is occasionally (up to 33% of the time) required to walk and stand. The employee must occasionally (up to 33% of the time) lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work Environment – Employee is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne participles. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• Protective Equipment – Protective equipment, such as hearing protection, bump cap, safety foot ware, hair net and food safety related garb, is required.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in food science, Dairy Manufacturing or related field of study, knowledge related to the job, and five to ten years of job-related experience.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position generally has Production Managers as direct reports. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; developing staff; employee engagement/communication; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing customer and employee complaints and resolving problems; administering the union contract; etc.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled are encouraged to apply.

At Foremost Farms USA, we believe that employee diversity brings strength to our organization. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disabilities, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Successful completion of pre-employment screening is required, which could include a drug test, background check, and other verifications or assessments to be sure you will be able to succeed in your position.