Blending Manager- Hager Facility

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following: Oversee all formulation and blending activities and performance to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Communicate expected performance results and ensure pertinent production information is disseminated effectively to all shift personnel in a timely manner.
Review shift metrics with the Partners to maintain awareness of performance to standard and schedule.
Ensure ongoing compliance with all Salm Partners and USDA sanitation and food safety requirements.
Oversee and monitor the set up and operation of the blending room equipment and processes to meet the blending schedule.
Oversee and ensure regrind usage from Case Pack is consumed into Blending as scheduled and in compliance with defined requirements.
Review the daily production reports, tracking and reporting down-time and blends completed; provide summary updates weekly.
Review and update Standard Operating Procedures; ensure they accurately represent the process in place and are being followed.
Monitor the production process flow and implement suggestions for throughput improvements; assign and assist with continuous improvement projects as required.
Participate in test-product planning meetings prior to and after the test runs.
Confer with Maintenance personnel, operators and helpers to resolve equipment problems.
Communicate production issues and concerns to the Shift Manager; relay concerns with regard to equipment performance, product quality, safety and food safety to Maintenance and/or Q partners in a timely manner.
Prepare performance evaluations and provide performance feedback through the review process.
Address and resolve partner issues through effective coaching and the progressive disciplinary process.
Identify Partner training needs and seek additional resources as needed to further develop partner skills.
Monitor Partner work schedules and attendance; manage the time-off request process and report unplanned absences in a timely manner to the HR department.
Review and approve request for temporary personnel weekly for the following week’s staffing needs.
Conduct utility knife checks on a monthly basis.
Conduct periodic Safety Observation Audits and Lockout/Tagout audits to ensure compliance.
Promote a positive and supportive work environment.
Ensure sanitation duties (e.
g.
change-over sanitation) are completed as required.
In absence, shift managers are to cover your role.
Ensure partner compliance with SOP, SSOP, GMP, and SQF requirements.
Follow and ensure compliance with all safety rules and regulations per established company policies.
Perform all other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities Directly supervises the Blending Team Leaders, Blender Operators, Blender Helpers, and Vat Washers.
Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with established policies and applicable law, including training, planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining; and addressing and resolving problems.
Seeks methods and measures to improve the work environment for the production partners.
Qualifications The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Must have effective communication skills and enjoy teaching and developing people.
Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and with changing environmental conditions.
Must have a strong attention to detail and the ability to work rapidly and with a high degree of accuracy.
Must also have strong leadership skills and proven work ethic, honesty, trustworthiness and integrity.
Education and/or Experience A Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Meat Science or related field is strongly preferred.
Completion of a sausage-processing short-courses is highly desirable.
Prior leadership experience and a minimum of 3 years previous work experience in a USDA-FSIS regulated meat/poultry manufacturing environment is required.
Experience with meat blending operations or ready-to-eat processed meats manufacturing is also required.
Meat technology knowledge and ability to trouble-shoot common blend-quality issues is strongly preferred.
Experience in formulating sausage to defined fat & moisture levels is highly desirable.
Experience in incorporating water/fat-binding ingredients (e.
g.
soy proteins, oat fiber) and inclusions (e.
g.
individual quick frozen vegetables, cheese) into sausage would be extremely advantageous.
Communication Skills Must possess effective interpersonal communication skills, with strong verbal and written communication skills.
Must have the ability to read and interpret documents such as product information, process instructions, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Must have the ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Must also have the ability to speak effectively before small groups of partners.
Must listen well, and promote an environment of open communication and collaborative problem solving.
Computer Skills Must possess strong computer proficiency with Word, Excel, Outlook, and MAS500 or related integrated manufacturing software system.
Experience with formulation optimization software used in the meat/poultry industry is strongly preferred.
Mathematical Skills Must have strong basic math skills, with the ability to calculate percentages, scale up/down sausage formulas, calculate fat add-back percentages and do other mathematical calculations inherent to sausage formulation.
Reasoning Ability Must have the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions, and the ability to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form.
Strong troubleshooting and root cause problem solving skills are also required.
Strong trouble shooting and problem solving skills are required.
Previous experience applying Root Cause Problem Solving methodologies is strongly preferred.
Physical Demands While performing the duties of this job, the partner is frequently required to stand for extended periods, walk, sit and talk or hear.
The partner is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
Must be able to lift up to 50# on a regular basis, and up to 75# occasionally.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and depth perception.
Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an encountered while performing the essential functions of this job.
There is a wide variation of temperatures ranging from 35° F to 100° F in the various production work areas.
The work environment is wet and slippery.
The noise level in the production work environment is usually loud.
Partners are required to wear frocks, hairnets, hearing protection and slip-resistant footwear at all times on the production floor.
Gloves, goggles, face shield, rain suits, rubber boots, and dust mask will be required at different times in the course of the work being performed.