We have an exciting opportunity to join our Senior Leadership Team

Along with our sister company Glanbia Cheese Limited, we are the leading mozzarella manufacturer in Europe. We provide custom cheese making solutions to companies in over 30 countries around the world. We are a joint venture between Glanbia plc and Leprino Foods Company - a winning combination that draws on each parent's strengths and areas of expertise.

Glanbia plc is an international nutritional solutions and cheese group, headquartered in Ireland with over €3 billion in annual sales. It's also a world leader in value-added dairy ingredients.

Leprino Foods, with an annual turnover in excess of $3 billion, is a global cheese and dairy ingredients company and the world's largest Mozzarella producer. Based in the U.S, Leprino Foods export to over 60 countries. A leader in food technology with over 50 production patents, Leprino is the exclusive supplier of Mozzarella to many of the top pizza chains in the US and... around the world.

At Glanbia Cheese EU we have built a state of the art mozzarella manufacturing facility in Portlaoise, Ireland. The facility uses patented and bespoke processes designed to enable the production of recipes tailored to our customers’ needs. We manufacture only mozzarella, with a history of expertise and focus, and then we tailor our solution to each individual request to ensure ultimate performance for every one of our customers. We understand food and nutrition and how to meet the needs of the world's most successful food companies. This helps our customers grow faster and more profitably. We have access to a global network of experts within our parent companies to help deliver customer solutions.

Role Purpose: Responsibility for a 24/7 production operation, which includes Processing, Boxing Operations and Stores operations on the GE EU Site. Providing leadership to a team of 70 employees, supporting their development, continuous improvement and success. This role operates as part of the site senior leadership team and will have responsibility for helping to develop, implement and actively drive site initiatives
• Accountable to: Site Operations Manager
• Designated Deputy: Lead Shift Production Manager
• Direct Reports: Lead Shift Production Manager, Lead Stores Co Ordinator, Production Process Specialist
• Indirect Reports: Shift Managers operating across 4 shifts (70 employees)

Responsibilities:

Relationship Development
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the site’s Senior Management team, Lead Shift Manager and Lead Stores Co Ordinator, Shifts Managers, and Production Specialists to deliver results
• Develop effective working relationships with the Quality, Maintenance, Technical Services, working with them to develop strong underpinning knowledge on site products and processes.
• Develop an open, approachable and professional relationship with employees, always operating on the basis of integrity, trust and in line with Company Values including our Dignity at Work policy.
• Maintain a high level of presence in the production areas and take an active interest in supporting Shift Managers, Cell Leads and Production and Stores Specialists. Encouraging employee engagement, actively promoting continuous improvement, skill and knowledge to help them reach their full potential.
• Communicate openly and regularly with the General Manager and Site Management Team, keeping them updated with relevant site/departmental information.
• Build an effective and collaborative working relationship with the HR Manager and HR team, working together to develop strong employee relations, positive engagement and a learning culture
• Develop strong communication links with the other Glanbia Cheese EU Production Managers, sharing learnings, examples of best practice and supporting each other on problem solving exercises
• Take an active interest and develop an understanding and a relationship where appropriate with key suppliers, particularly our equipment suppliers.

Operational Excellence
• Undertake a daily Process walk to verify the process is in control and identify opportunities for improvement
• Ensure effective implementation of the agreed production plan ensuring deviations to plan are flagged and investigated, to ensure true root causes are identified. Ensure timely and appropriate corrective action is implemented to address issues identified.
• Apply a structured approach to resolving the key H&S, Quality and Productivity problems within Production and Stores Depts through the effective use of lean tools including 5 whys, DMAICs and pulling in support from QA Maintenance as required in cross functional teams
• Optimize the Weekly Production Plan; along with Planning Dept, to maximize run lengths, minimize change overs, incorporate up to date run rates and ensure 100% service levels
• Track and report on Departmental performance through the effective use of KPI and Y&E processes to meet the needs of key stakeholders. Develop and implement systems and procedures to validate and ensure the accuracy of data recorded, ensure variances to standard / target are investigated and effective action plans are in place to drive improvement and identified corrective actions are effectively closed out.
• Support an effective tier meeting system across all 4 shifts that ensures issues are escalated and addresses at the appropriate level through regular attendance at these meetings.
• Attend daily meetings as and when required and support the Shift Manager leading. Ensure the Shift Managers are providing 360 feed back to their Teams and address issues as they arise
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to improve Safety, Quality, improve Operational Efficiency, and minimise waste appropriately and effectively using lean tools,
• Support commissioning and SAT activities for new plant and equipment, establishing standard settings, and the development of PSOPs, SPC Charts etc
• Lead the development of effective and sustainable zonal 5S within Production, Processing Boxing and Stores areas
• Attend the Top Loss meeting, ensuring the daily Top Loss issues are captured and resolved in this forum.
• Work with the Maintenance Team to drive the development of Asset Care within the Production , Packing and Stores teams with early reporting of deviation from the norm with equipment/process
• Ensure detailed and relevant PSOP’s (capturing one best way of operating) are developed with robust Competency assessment of Production Specialists
• Ensure a progressive improvement in cleaning and hygiene standards across the plant
• Initiate and lead capital projects and the preparation of AFEs to support the production strategy
• Attend the Cheese Melt and Compaction sessions take remedial action for adverse results/trends
• Ensure effective Curd age management/ blending to optimize product performance and ensuring curd is used within target age range

People/Team
• Provide effective Leadership for the Production and Stores teams providing direction and guidance to support the achievement of Department goals.
• Ensure the Values of the Business are “lived and breathed” in all aspects the operation of the Production and packing operation.
• Ensure there is role clarity across Production and Stores and that all members understand their roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and expectations for themselves and their team, and that the whole Team is motivated to succeed.
• Development of the Lead Shift Production Manager, Production Process Specialist and the Lead Stores Co Ordinator through effective coaching and development plans supported by structured processes including regular one-to-one meetings and ensure this is cascaded through their respective teams
• Set objectives for direct reports and ensure that these are then cascaded through the team. Hold regular one to one meetings to review progress and agree next steps
• Ensure the development and delivery of Technical training programmes to develop Shift Managers, Cell Leads and Production Specialists overall understanding and knowledge of the Plant, Process and Procedures including the What, Why, Acceptable working range and Actions to take in the event of deviation from standard. Ensure this knowledge is also captured in the PSOPs
• Ensure effective escalation processes are in place and used by the Production and Stores Teams
• Support the Production and Stores teams in developing effective decision trees, flow charts and procedures; drawing on the learning’s from each challenge, to progressively improve their decision making, speed of reaction to issues and reduce the necessity for escalation
• Set clear expectations on standards and performance for each member of the team, holding them accountable for delivery through clear action plans and reasonable execution timelines.
• Promote timely and structured approach to close out and completion of agreed targets and actions.
• Through effective communication support the creation of an environment whereby all the production and stores teams are encouraged to contribute to the site’s success, creating a culture of engagement and positive employee relations.
• Map out the shift rotas to ensure they match the requirements of the Business Plan; aligned with the Planning Dept, and that these plans are clearly communicated to the teams ensuring the rotas are understood by all Team members. Monitor the effectiveness of the Shift rota and make the necessary timely adjustments to the rotas to match business requirements
• Regularly review of staffing levels to ensure the labour plan is aligned to the Weekly Production Plan taking into account additional activities such as rework addition, preparation of ingredients such as analogue. Lead recruitment for both Production and Stores Depts and ensure effective onboarding.
• Ownership of the annualized hrs process, monitoring the hrs to ensure they are maintained within the agreed +/- limits and report on same on a monthly basis.
• Ensure that there are effective cross training plans and that these plans are being effectively implemented, working towards everyone in the cell being cross trained on all roles within the cell
• Monitor that the SAP T&A exceptions are fully and timely addressed. Challenge and support the Shift Managers with absence awareness meetings, investigative and disciplinary meetings when triggered
• When required actively participate in Employee Relations matters, including Investigation, Disciplinary, Grievance Hearing, and Appeal stages of formal processes, in line with HR guidelines and support.
• Proactively engage and support site initiatives designed to support engagement, continuous improvement, and Health & We-being.

Responsible Care
• Promote and support the development of an effective and pro-active safety culture on site with the whole team working to work to identifying and eliminate hazards.
• Build H&S into the PSOPs to promote safe working practises, in accordance with relevant Health and Safety Legislation
• Ensure that each activity is Risk assessed by providing the necessary resource to complete these risk assessments.
• Proactively prioritize hazard ensuring effective control measures in place, associated PPE provided with full compliance
• Ensure that all accidents and incidents within the department are thoroughly investigated and escalated and that root causes of these are identified and eliminated through preventative measures.
• Support the QA Team to ensure all Customer Complaint Investigations identifying root cause and ensuring timely close out of agreed corrective actions.
• Develop effective on line Quality checks/check frequency in associated with the Quality Dept to support RFTR
• Ensure that all food safety and CCP procedures are observed and report any issues that may constitute a hygiene or safety risk
• Ensure your team are fully aware of site environmental standards, and ensure production processes operate in accordance with the requirements of ISO) and the site operating licence.
• Ensure that accidental discharges are minimised, and where these may occur, that spillage investigation report is completed and remedial action is implemented.

Undertake any other duties as considered by the company to be within the scope of the role.

Core Values

Every employee at every level within Glanbia Cheese must act, behave and operate in line with the company core values.
• Stop Think and Act Safely targeting Zero Harm
• Trust and Respect through Open and Honest Communication
• Responsive to the Voice of Our Customer
• Integrity is core to Everything we do
• Value our People
• Excellence in Everything we do

People Requirements

Physical

No health issues likely to preclude employment in the dairy industry, or in a humid environment

Qualifications & Training

Numeracy and literacy sufficient to enable the post holder to understand the significance of numerical data and communicate effectively in writing

Formal 3rd Level qualification in a relevant Business / Science / Technical discipline

Formal 3rd Level qualification or accredited training in any of the following:

Supervisory Management

Food Science / Technology field / lean manufacturing

Experience

Previous management and leadership experience in a production or manufacturing environment, with evidence of consistent achievement of targets

As essential but in the food / dairy production environment

Experience of a 24/7 operation

Experience of a unionised environment

Previous experience operating as part of a Site leadership team

Specialist Knowledge

Able to demonstrate knowledge of how safe working practices are applied in the production environment

Ability to train and develop on technical tasks

Can effectively performance manage

Detailed knowledge of production processes within the food / dairy production environment

Skills & Abilities

Excellent communication skills

Ability to utilise resources effectively

Able to display initiative and apply problem solving skills

Strong organisation and planning skills with ability to prioritise effectively

Behaviours

Operates with Integrity and Trust

Honours Commitments

Self-motivated

Teamwork oriented with leadership capability

Adaptable to short & long term change

Circumstances

Flexible to work across shifts on occasion if required, with sufficient notice.

Skills:
Manufacturing Operations Production processes Factory Management Schedule Production OEE Lean Manufacturing Optimise Production

Benefits:
Group Life Assurance Performance Bonus Parking Meal Allowance / Canteen Mobile Phone Laptop Medical Aid / Health Care
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Salary Criteria