Sr. Director Industrial Engineering

Job Title: Sr. Director Industrial Engineering
Position Location: East Coast, USA   (Preferred home base Atlanta)
Reports To: VP of Manufacturing

About the Company

Sugar Foods is a privately owned company with production facilities in Georgia, Massachusetts, California, and Mexico. Our products are sold and distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada. Sugar Foods manufactures and packages croutons, tortilla chips, crispy toppings, as well as cheese-based toppings. Additionally, Sugar Foods packages a variety of items including sugar, sweeteners, powdered creamer, and dried fruits and nuts.  

The Sugar Foods Way

At Sugar Foods, the Customer is King, and our team is our Family. The vision of Sugar Foods is for our products to be on every plate and in every cup. We continue to grow our business and adapt to changing business conditions to consistently provide value to our customers, our associates, and our community, by adhering to high standards of quality and safety and always acting in a respectful and responsible manner.

 Position Summary

This position will report to the VP of Manufacturing.  The role will be responsible to drive process improvements across our production operations as well as execute and implement various capital and non-capital projects delivering cost savings, efficiency and productivity improvements. In this role, you will design, optimize, and implement manufacturing systems that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain the highest quality standards. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth workflows and support continuous improvement initiatives.

The Sr. Director of Industrial Engineering is a strategic leader responsible for driving operational excellence, innovation, and scalable engineering solutions across the Sugar Foods Manufacturing footprint.   The person in this role has a successful track record in delivering operational improvements along with implementing capital projects on time and on budget.  

Key Responsibilities

• Design and optimize manufacturing processes for efficiency, safety, and quality.
• Support our TPM based/Op Centric operating model to reduce waste and improve productivity.
• Analyze production data to identify bottlenecks and recommend solutions.
• Develop plant layouts and equipment specifications to maximize throughput.
• Collaborate with quality teams to maintain compliance with standards and implement corrective actions.
• Support new product introductions and scale-up activities.
• Prepare cost-benefit analyses for process changes and improvement projects.
• Direct large-scale engineering projects to ensure completed on time, on task and on budget. 
• Travel to locations may be required to troubleshoot and resolve issues
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to optimize production operations, reduce costs, and enhance service levels. 
• Serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on engineering strategy, capital investments, and operational innovation. 
• Oversee the design and implementation of scalable production solutions, including automation, layout optimization, and workflow redesign. 
• Champion the standardization of project execution and develop standard operating procedures 
• Partner with operations and technical teams to optimize system configurations and ensure seamless integration with operational workflows. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field.
• Proficiency in CAD software and manufacturing simulation tools.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with ERP systems and production planning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with automation, robotics, or smart manufacturing technologies.
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt or higher).
• Knowledge of ISO standards and regulatory compliance.
  
  Travel Requirement
• 30% - 40% travel required to support work at other facilities including West Coast/ Mexico, Indianapolis, and Boston.
   
   Sugar Foods LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy at Sugar Foods is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.