SUMMARY: This position is responsible for managing and sustaining manufacturing engineering functions for Faribault Foods. The Engineering Manager will plan, direct, and coordinate the engineering operations corporately including support to all manufacturing sites. This includes managing the Engineering budget, coordinating large capital projects, providing technical leadership, and offering engineering support to all facets of the business. In addition, this position will be responsible for managing and leading Project, Industrial, Packaging and Controls Engineers and other teams.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Management of capital projects related to all FFI facilities and equipment:
  • Identify best-in-class equipment, processes, facilities, etc.
  • Drive financial analysis and business case justification
  • Develop and maintain supplier relationships and leverage vendors’ expertise and resources
  • Drive negotiation with suppliers
  • Coordinate capital projects with outside vendors and internal partners
  • Develop and sustain processes for capital planning, project development and startup assure achievement of operational objectives
  • Monitor project spending and control costs to budget
• Manage assigned projects and delegate to appropriate personnel as required in ensuring proper project involvement with the business units to build ownership.
• Provide leadership to direct reports, including project delegation, career development/guidance, and performance assessment / management.
• Work directly with other support departments and manufacturing personnel to problem-solve and correct production and quality-related issues.
• Work closely with R&D, New Product Development and Operations teams on design improvement projects, maintenance issues, reformulation of products, introduction of new manufacturing processes, etc.
• Build and maintain strong communication channels with all levels of operating management, interacting with all functional departments.
• Review product/equipment design for compliance with engineering principles, safety/ergonomic standards, and governmental laws, codes and regulations.
• Provide technical support for all operational segments, including manufacturing and distribution facilities, production equipment, waste water operations and related regulatory compliance matters.
• Directly responsible for plant capital equipment investments.
• Ensure required documentation, process automation programs, databases, parts, preps, & fixtures are available to facilitate process standardization.
• Provide senior technical leadership to the Company’s safety, continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and Six Sigma initiatives by identifying process and physical asset improvements with accountability to financial goals and performance.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent combination of technical education and/or experience.

Experience: Minimum of 10 years of previous experience in manufacturing/mechanical engineering in a manufacturing environment.

Skills:

• Strong management skills with a history of success in leadership role
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact with all internal functions, customers and suppliers as necessary
• Demonstrated strong execution skills and the ability to provide proactive leadership and vision in developing and sustaining the strategic goals for Operations Engineering
• Influencing, and negotiation
• AutoCAD, Micros
• Desired skills: Food manufacturing, Thermal process, Canning Industry, Spanish

RELATIONSHIPS:

• Reports to Technical Director.
• Works closely with manufacturing and support department leadership at all locations

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, reach, stretch, stoop, bend, use hands and fingers and climb stairs. This job requires the employee to be able to read, write and communicate orally in English.

The physical demands described 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.