Culture & Raw Rooms Operations Manager at RIZO-LOPEZ FOODS INC in Modesto , California

Job Description:

Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Direct the overall activities of cultured dairy products as well as the receiving and preparing of raw milk to ensure customer orders are produced on-time while maintaining company quality, food safety and workplace safety standards.Provide fair and consistent leadership. Ensure effective selection, retention, development, disciplinary action and performance management of employees, either directly or through supervisors.Provide leadership, direction, coaching and professional development to supervisors and leads.Drive continuous improvement efforts that enable operational efficiency and excellence and /or cost improvements while meeting or exceeding company quality, food safety and workplace safety standards. Analyze operations data to identify opportunities and drive action to improve and resolve problems. Lead the troubleshooting and improvement of department manufacturing processes & equipment.Build accountability and follow-up within operational teams by developing and implementing performance metrics. Ensure standard operating procedures (SOPs) training, adherence, maintenance and development where not exist.Develop annual budgets in conjunction with the Plant Manger. Monitor and control plant material usage; material loss; packaging and supervisory labor costs; and fixed and variable overhead cost.Work with maintenance department to coordinate and implement equipment maintenance and repair as well as advising on existing equipment improvements and new equipment installation.Promote and enforce GMPs, food safety, quality and sanitation standards, to ensure product quality and integrity.Champion the plants safety process to insure a behavioral-based safe, hazard-free working environment for all employees.Validate, troubleshoot and be proactive concerning plant sanitation and Clean-in-place (CIP) procedures and programs.Oversee plant Master Sanitation and CIP schedules and perform routine follow-up on the application of these schedules. Review micro results daily.Optimize Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) to achieve a higher level of effectiveness and efficiency as well as a lower environmental impact.Enforce sanitation and operating personnel SSOP training, including updates and modifications, to ensure comprehension and compliance.Oversee plant relationship with chemical products supplier to ensure timely and effective technical support.Oversee plant chemical inventory and monitor chemical usage and regulatory reporting requirements including but not limited to annual CERS (California Environmental Reporting System) reporting.
Additional Responsibilities
Performs other duties as assigned from management to ensure business operations run smoothly.Champion corporate food safety culture and strategies to mitigate food safety risk Support Quality Assurance programs by developing initiative and timely follow-up on corrective actions.Responsible for instilling the importance of safety in the workplace through adherence to safety rules, practicing safe work habits, utilizing appropriate safety equipment and reporting unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator. Utilizing continuous improvement mindset, assist in identifying opportunities to improve processes.Champion Good Manufacturing Practices, maintain a clean and sanitary work practices.Ability to be flexible to the productions needs and adjustments to work-hours.

Supervisory Responsibility
This position has direct supervisory responsibilities.

Knowledge and Skills Requirements
Knowledge of SQF (Safe Quality Foods), HARPC (Hazard Analysis Risk-Based Preventive Controls), and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices).Effective verbal, written, and listening communication skills.Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and prioritize successfully.Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize effectively.Demonstrated ability to motivate employees to work as a team, building on strengths and growth opportunities; collaborate with colleagues.Effective problem solving, supervision, coaching and disciplining skills. Basic computer skills.Develop and establish department budgets. Budgeting experience preferred.Communicate and demonstrate the company culture, values and foster positive employee relations.Spanish/English bilingual preferred, but not required.Appreciates and demonstrates value of spending time on the production floor
Certification and License
None
Education and Experience
Bachelors Degree in Food Science, Dairy Science or related discipline.A minimum of 5 years prior supervisory experience A minimum of 2 years of food manufacturing experience (dairy or cheese environment preferred).Quality and food safety experience within a manufacturing environment.
Work Schedule
The typical work schedule is 8.00 hours per day 5 days per week. Must be able to work any shift based on operational needs; weekend work not uncommon. It is the attendance standard of the employer that employee be present and on time each shift they are scheduled to work.
Travel
No travel is expected for this position.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to constantly stand/walk; bend/flex/extend/twist neck and back; frequently grip/reach/lift/pull with L/R hands; talk or hear. The employee frequently handles material from floor-to-waist, waist-to-shoulder, shoulder-to-overhead and pushing/pulling/carrying. The employee frequently is required to stand for long periods of time, walk; and stoop, and kneel. The employee must regularly lift and/or move objects up to 50 pounds. The employee must wear protective clothing, foot and eye protection, hairnet, face mask, gloves, and earplugs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the coworkers and other staff.

Work Environment & Conditions
The work environment and conditions described here 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.

Work is normally performed in a warehouse/production type atmosphere where the temperature may vary from cold to hot. The noise level in the work environment usually is loud. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, vibrations, airborne particles, and hazardous chemicals. Employee should read the warning labels for information and instructions. Rizo Lopez maintains Safety Data Sheets (SDS) as required by law on hazardous products. SHSs are kept at the office for review by employees.
Limitations and Disclaimer
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills aptitudes and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills or abilities.

Nothing in this job description, nor by the completion of any requirement of the job by the employee, is intended to create an employment contract, implied or otherwise of any type. Employment is at will and may be terminated at any time by the employee or employer with or without cause or notice.