Operations Lead Pack (6P/6A) - Post Consumer Brands

Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company’s portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats®, PEBBLES®, Grape-Nuts® and Malt-O-Meal® cereal, and Peter Pan® peanut butter, as well as Rachael Ray® Nutrish®, Kibbles ‘n Bits® and 9Lives® dog and cat food. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit www.postconsumerbrands.com and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news.

Post Consumer Brands recently acquired several iconic pet food brands, venturing into a new market while remaining true to our purpose to provide delicious and accessible food that our consumers love. We’re always searching the center store for the next exciting product to add to our portfolio, and right now, we’re growing and need passionate, driven individuals with diverse perspectives to help us reach greater heights. That’s where you come in. Join a team where your voice is not only heard but valued. Make a real impact on brands enjoyed by millions of people and their pets.

The Meadville, Pennsylvania facility is 135,000 square feet and home to about 290 hard working team members who are proud to produce iconic pet food brands like Rachael Ray® Nutrish®. Located along the banks of French Creek in Northwestern Pennsylvania and 45 minutes from Pittsburgh, Meadville is home to more than 13,000 full time residents and 2,000 Allegheny College students. Meadville is an active center for business, industry, education, the arts, recreation, service and tourism. Conneaut Lake, Pymatuning State Park and the Erie National Wildlife Refuge are wonderful places to appreciate the area's natural beauty. 

Purpose:  

Operations Lead that has responsibility for defining, creating and achieving standard work and driving optimization of the assigned business unit. The ability to operate and understand the equipment and process in the business unit. Capable of investigating, identifying, and correcting non-routine or unique equipment issues. Demonstrates a high level of technical understanding, decision making and root cause analysis abilities.  Identifies continuous improvement opportunities in the assigned area. Support, implement, and maintain food safety, food safety culture, and quality practices as required through SQF.   

Primary Responsibilities:  

• Understands and is fully trained on all requirements and responsibilities of the Specialist position. 

• Maintains and demonstratesa high level of technical understanding regarding individual process and impact on yield, rate, and availability. 

• Leads by example through information sharing, training, positive and respectful employee relations. 

• Leads Basic Equipment Care (BEC) activities in assigned area. 

• Investigates, identifies, and leverages resources to correct non-routine or unique equipment upset conditions that negatively impact safety, quality, rate, yield and uptime. 

• Provides input into equipment modification/design or viewed as a resource for related improvements. 

• Understands and takes ownership of both upstream and downstream impacts of changes and maximizes line performance.   

• Acts as a contact for communication between team members, engineers, and maintenance to resolve issues, driving continuous improvement. 

• Works with technical support teams in investigating and resolving product/equipment performance issues, as well as planning and completing preventative maintenance.   

• Acts as key production resource in designing, planning, and executing quality, yield, and reliability improvement initiatives. 

• Takes a key role in standard work and training material development. 

• Foresees impending safety, quality, or production issues and creates a plan to prevent or minimize problems, working effectively with other support functions.  

• Supports, implements, and maintains food safety practices as required through SQF or other requirements.   

• Trains and coaches other employees learning new equipment, processes and/or procedures.  Participates in the design and review of training material. 

• May work in rotation as member of production team during emergency situations. 

• Identifies and drives continuous improvement opportunities, by participating in special projects, assignments, and trainings. 

• Act as back up to Operations Supervisor, including following Safety Leader Standard work. 

• Participates in weekly safety walks. 

• May participate in safety incident investigations. 

• May participate as a member of one of the elements of the PSRMP safety program. 

• Assists in other areas of the plant upon request. 

Qualifications & Competencies: 

• High School Diploma or GED; 2 year degree from a post-secondary accredited school preferred. 

• 3 years of food manufacturing or related experience preferred. 

• General understanding of continuous improvement and lean principles.    

• Advanced level mechanical knowledge to include the ability to operate all related production equipment.   

• Ability to identify root cause and reflect corrective actions in SOP or detailed work instructions. 

• Certified as an SQF practitioner. 

• Completion of the Foundations in Leadership Training course. 

• Demonstrated ability to recognize opportunities for improvement and drive efficiencies. 

• Intermediate level math and computer skills. 

• Ability to understand and calculate yield, rate and reliability metrics. 

• Ability to multi-task and adjust priorities based on the changing demands in a dynamic manufacturing environment. 
• Ability to use basic hand and power tools. 
• Ability to work within a team environment and build positive professional relationships. 

• Ability to effectively communicate in both written and verbal form in English and ability to present information in one-on-one situations and small groups. 

• Ability to problem solve intermediate to advanced problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where standardizations/alternatives may or may not exist. 

• Ability to work scheduled shifts, standing, kneeling, climbing and walking for extended periods of the day; capable of repetitive gripping, pinching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling with weight ranges up to 50 pounds; ability to perform repeated twisting, bending and reaching of upper and lower extremities; exposure to hot and/or humid environments, heights up to 30 ft., working on ladders, and confined spaces. 

• Good work history and acceptable attendance. 

Competencies: 

• Communication Skills: Writing & Listening Skills, Presentation Skills, Training Skills 

• Execution Skills: Results Oriented, Problem Solving 

• People Skills: Team Building 

• Personal Behaviors: Flexibility & Initiative