Wawona Packing Co was founded in 1945 and is a third generation grower, packer, shipper of tree fruit products. More specifically, fresh peaches, plums, nectarines, pluots, and apricots. Wawona is an industry leader in both volume and quality with nationally recognized brand equity in the produce industry. The company is the largest producer of organic tree fruit in the world and continues to lead the industry in market share.
As Director of Operations, this position reports directly to the president of Wawona Packing Co and directly manages a staff of department heads to include Plant Manager, Cold Storage and Shipping Manager, Maintenance Manager, Food Safety Manager, Inventory Manager and Sanitation Supervisor. This position will require a results-orientated, innovative facility operations leader with a track record of implementing processes that improve quality and efficiency. The position has the responsibility of planning, organizing, budgeting, directing, and controlling all facility activities to meet or exceed company goals in employee development, quality, food safety, process control, and cost of goods.
Strategy:
- Partner with President on all operational and strategic issues as they arise, provide strategic recommendations based off operational analysis and process control.
- Manage the facility and field operations, and its employees, to deliver continually improving results in the areas of product quality, food safety, process productivity, and employee development.
- Direct all activities for production lines, and field crews in accordance with plan and line goals, product standards, costs, budgets, and established procedures.
- Instilling and maintaining a culture of teamwork through inclusion and continuity within all departments
- Coordinating and supporting continuous improvement activity through stringent process protocol.
- Identifying opportunities to eliminate cost/waste while improving plant efficiencies.
- Identifying, developing, and implementing best practices in safety and quality.
- Providing direction and guidance to Supervisors, and their activities, to enhance production.
- Demonstrate problem solving skills and root cause analysis to resolve and/or mitigate operational and safety issues.
- Review department and individual employee performance, monitor productivity, efficiency, prepare assessment reports, and prepare reports for management.
- Participation in budgeting, inventory control and management, and interact with vendors and suppliers.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and be good with time management as scope of position is multifaceted.
- Must be proficient in written and oral communications, remain well versed of company policy and procedures, and have the ability to identify and define process controls.
- Knowledgeable with costs of goods sold, including costs associated with raw materials, labor, and overhead.
- Provide oversight of accidental preventative program and food safety program to ensure compliance with governmental regulation.
- Ensure compliance with applicable State and Federal governmental agencies (OSHA, PRIMUS, USDA, EPA, etc.) Holding the appropriate department heads accountable for reporting, logs, and loss control responsibilities.
- Able to work flexible and long hours when needed
- Work closely with production, maintenance, and sanitation heads, to identify, develop, and implement required processes and protocol.
- Ability to inspire and motivate supervisors and employees through leadership and example.
Team Management:
- Oversee, develop, and manage direct staff, to include managers in production, food safety, quality control shipping, inventory, sanitation, and maintenance.
- Engage and work closely with other managers of senior management teams, to include, CFO, Human Resources, Director of Purchasing, Field Department and IT Department.
Desired Skills & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Systems and Operations management or related field preferred.
- Ten years’ experience in food manufacturing, food processing, or packing plant environment and working knowledge and experience in production/processing systems.
- Working agriculture background.
- Excellence in organizational management with the ability to coach senior level staff to manage and develop high performance teams to implement company strategies.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, a persuasive and passionate communicator.
- Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, flexible, and innovative approach to operational management.
- Analytical and decisive decision maker with the ability to achieve organizational goals.
- Excellent time management skills with strong ability to lead, plan, and manage change and culture.
