Packing, Loading & Warehouse Manager

SUMMARY:

The Packing, Loading and Warehouse (PLW) Manager provides leadership, direction, planning, and supervision for the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the packaging, bulk loadout, and warehousing functions. This position is accountable for department performance in safety, quality, food safety, productivity, schedule attainment, labor utilization, equipment reliability, waste reduction, and employee development.

The PLW Manager ensures compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and established company policies, procedures, GMPs, and safety standards while driving continuous improvement throughout the department. The role requires strong knowledge of process flow, equipment operation, safe troubleshooting practices, and mechanical systems within the area of responsibility.

The PLW Manager is also responsible for developing and coordinating production schedules for the packaging and bulk departments in collaboration with the Mill Scheduler and other operational stakeholders to ensure production capabilities are aligned with customer requirements and plant priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides day-to-day leadership and direction for packing, bulk loading, and warehouse operations to safely and efficiently meet production and customer requirements.
• Ensures compliance with company safety policies, GMPs, Plant Rules, SOPs, quality standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Develops and coordinates production schedules for packaging and bulk operations in collaboration with the Mill Scheduler, adjusting priorities based on production requirements, equipment availability, inventory, and customer needs.
• Plans and manages staffing and labor utilization to meet operational requirements while effectively managing overtime and departmental costs.
• Owns departmental KPIs and drives continuous improvement in safety, quality, productivity, schedule attainment, downtime, efficiency, and waste.
• Monitors equipment performance and works with Maintenance to address equipment issues, prioritize repairs, and improve operational reliability.
• Ensures effective warehouse operations, including inventory accuracy, product identification and rotation, storage, staging, and shipment.
• Leads problem-solving and corrective actions related to safety, equipment failures, and operational performance.
• Develops, reviews, and implements SOPs and other operating procedures relevant to the department.
• Partners with Milling, Maintenance, Quality/Food Safety, Logistics, Customer Support, and other departments to resolve operational issues and achieve overall plant objectives.
• Identifies departmental improvement and capital needs and supports the development and implementation of approved projects.
• Communicates department performance, priorities, challenges, and improvement opportunities to the Plant Manager and other appropriate stakeholders.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Manages employees within the packing, loading, and warehousing department and is responsible for the overall leadership, direction, coordination, performance, and development of the department.

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing and selecting employees; onboarding and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; managing staffing and schedules; evaluating performance; recognizing strong performance; coaching and developing employees; administering corrective action when necessary; addressing employee concerns; and resolving problems. Facilitates effective shift-change and departmental communication to ensure priorities, safety concerns, equipment conditions, quality issues, and other relevant information are communicated between shifts.

Establishes clear expectations, holds employees accountable for performance and behavior, and promotes teamwork, engagement, and professional development. Leads by example and demonstrates a positive, accountable, and solutions-oriented leadership approach.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

B.S. degree from a 4-year college or university, in a technical or engineering curriculum preferred and/or minimum 10 years progressive packaging experience in the food industry or bulk powders.

Minimum of 5 years management experience.

Demonstrated experience working in a Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or another CI Environment.

Proven track record of cost reductions and increased productivity.

Experience in a union environment with strong labor relations skills is preferred.

Strong knowledge of warehouse management systems.

Well-developed analytical and computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access.

Ability to empower, supervise and direct a diverse workforce.

Ability to hire, develop, evaluate, train, and coach staff and associates.

Effective communication skills and ability to build direct relationships with hourly associates while managing union contracts.

Excellent organizational skills with a high degree of initiative and flexibility.

Experience in holding employees accountable for working safely and providing a safe work environment.

Proven ability to define performance measures related to business and hold people accountable for such.

Proven ability to do financial analysis and review and analyze existing cost data.

Must possess the following traits: proactive, willingness to try new things, and change agent.

Must be comfortable at giving and receiving open feedback.

Willingness to work flexible hours.

Needs to be an independent worker and decision maker with self-initiative to carry out job functions.

Possess strong technical skills, troubleshoot mechanical problems, and direct maintenance accordingly to set department up for success.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Capable of following and communicating written and verbal instructions in English. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write in English and complete reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts and apply concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables at any given time.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to figure, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. Employee is frequently required to stand, walk, climb or balance, and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment is in a plant manufacturing facility. However, frequent contact with operational aspects of the plant site is essential. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and fumes or airborne particles and occasionally exposed to high, precarious places. The employee will also be exposed to extremes in hot and cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Hearing protection is required in certain areas of the plant.

FOOD SAFETY / SECURITY REQUIREMENTS:  

The Company is committed to producing and delivering defect-free products. To ensure this, all employees are required to be trained on and adhere to the Good Manufacturing Policies set forth by the Company as they pertain to personnel practices, equipment, and facilities. It is also vital that all employees be aware of their work environment and prevent any accidental or intentional adulteration of products produced at this facility.

 SAFETY: 

The employee is expected to perform all job responsibilities in a safe manner and comply with all company safety policies, procedures, and requirements. As a department leader, the PLW Manager is responsible for promoting a strong safety culture, reinforcing safe work practices, addressing unsafe conditions and behaviors, and holding employees accountable for following established safety expectations.

The PLW Manager is responsible for ensuring that injuries, incidents, near misses, hazards, and unsafe conditions within the department are promptly reported, investigated, and addressed. The PLW Manager is expected to actively identify opportunities to reduce risk and continuously improve safety performance within the department.