Ingredients Operations Manager

MGP Ingredients is a leading supplier of premium distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions. Its Distilling Solutions segment provides bourbons, whiskeys, ryes, gins, and vodkas to craft and multinational brands. MGP's own Branded Spirts business is growing following the 2021 acquisition of Luxco, a top spirits producer, bottler, supplier, and importer as well as the 2023 acquisition of Penelope Bourbon, known for its wide range of uniquely blended expressions. Ingredient Solutions delivers nutritional, functional wheat- and pea-based ingredients aligned with consumer trends. The company operates in locations across the Midwestern U.S., and overseas in Northern Ireland and Mexico.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Ensure that all daily operational activities are performed in a safe and efficient manner. Ensure all work done by MGP employees or contractors is done according to proper procedures. Ensure all deficiencies/incidents are reported, investigated, and corrected promptly. Plan, organize, direct, and run optimum day-to-day operations. Responsible to establish and execute processes/methods/plans to ensure KPI scorecard metrics (inclusive of Zero-Based Analysis & Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and budgeted outputs are met or exceeded. Trigger corrective actions as required. Identify, analyze, prioritize, plan and execute reactive and preventative maintenance plans for periodic turnarounds and daily maintenance ensuring the systems are operating safely, reliably and at maximum capacity & efficiency. Increase production, assets capacity and flexibility through process improvements. Allocate resources effectively and fully utilize assets to produce optimal results. Coordinate plant activities through planning with Sales and Logistics managers to ensure Supply and Demand are accomplished in a timely and cost-effective manner. Share a trusting relationship with workgroup and recruit, manage and develop plant staff. Address employees' issues or grievances and administer collective bargaining agreements.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

Compliance

• Ensure that all work done by MGP employees or contractors is done according to proper procedures. Ensure that all deficiencies/incidents are reported, investigated, and corrected promptly.

Operations

• Ensure all daily operational activities are performed in a safe and efficient manner. Forecast and schedule production ensuring KPI goals are met.
• Plan and execute reactive and preventative maintenance plans through Maintenance for periodic turnarounds and daily maintenance ensuring the systems are operating safely, reliably and at maximum capacity & efficiency.
• Participate in the development and management of Ingredient's operating budget in terms of volume, yield and spend.

Engineering

• Monitor operations for efficiency, assign tasks to the process engineer, develop capital improvement plans, work with R&D in developing and implementing new products

Quality

• Ensure production quality standards are met. Ensure all applicable regulatory requirements are met, and that the facility and documentation is maintained per GFSI/BRC requirements.

Management

• Oversee the shift manager group, Warehouse Superintendent, and Operations Superintendent. Indirectly manage the operator group. Participate in the hiring and training of shift managers as well as operators. Participate in labor relations meetings.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Bachelor degree preferred, or equivalent operations experience
• Experience using Microsoft Office suite (excel, word, PowerPoint, and outlook), ERP and Quality Management system required.
• 3-5 years food manufacturing experience + 3-5 years management experience; 6-10 years total combined.
• Communicate effectively, motivate others, delegate and hold accountability.
• Plan, organize, and prioritize the operations of a food production facility with multiple interconnected subsystems.
• Understand the operations of mixers, pumps, dryers, heat exchangers, filtration systems, conveyance systems, and starch and protein modifications.
• Apply the scientific method to solve problems.
• Understand and uphold FDA regulation regarding the processing of human food products. The ability to use software such as Microsoft Office (excel, word, PowerPoint, and outlook), and SAP.
• Ability to read and understand engineering and other technical documents. The ability to understand statistics and statistical process control.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Caitlin Zbikowski, Talent Manager @ c.zbikowski@mgpi.com.

If the above speaks to you, we're excited to learn more about you! At MGP, we know that our people are our greatest strength. With different perspectives and unique ways of thinking, our employees are as varied as our products. We believe that inclusivity strengthens the organization and champions a company culture that is evolving to reflect all of us. Culture results from our behaviors, our personal commitment, our curiosity, how we collaborate, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and expect others to do the same. Each of us can make a difference by fostering thinking and actions that empower us to connect, belong and grow together.

Compensation is competitive and is commensurate with experience. MGP offers exceptional medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k) Match and PTO.

All successful candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background check and drug test.