Packaging Manager jobs in North Carolina

FedUp Foods, one of the nation's early producers of kombucha through the Buchi brand, and one of the largest functional beverage manufacturers in America, offers a diverse portfolio of organic private label functional beverages for top global retailers.

Are you interested in being part of the core team responsible for the launch of FedUp Foods 2nd production facility in Wilmington, NC?

Position Summary

The Packaging Manager is directly responsible for the complete functionality (team leadership, safety, environmental compliance, quality, customer service, warehouse distribution, sanitation and quantity/output) of the packaging team across all shifts. You will work with the Brewing Manager, Maintenance Manager, Quality Manager, and Plant Manager to ensure production quotas are met on time while meeting all safety and quality standards.

The ideal candidate is an energetic, servant minded manager with a passion for building systems from the ground up, the tenacity to see projects through to completion, and a commitment to innovation with high standards of quality and integrity.

General Duties/Responsibilities

• Recognize and appreciate the responsibility that you represent on behalf of the Company to the Employee.
• As a Manager, model behavior to set the tone of exhibiting honesty, integrity and hard work and expect the same from the Team.
• Promptly recognize, acknowledge and reinforce positive, contributory Employee behavior and performance; likewise, promptly recognize, confront and correct dysfunctional Employee behavior and performance.
• Manage all aspects of the employee lifecycle for the entire packaging team including but not limited to interviewing, hiring, training, coaching, reviewing, promoting and when necessary terminating.
• Develop Succession planning strategies throughout the department with cross training plans and development road maps for employees with high potential.
• Develop Packaging Leads to be a potential succession candidate by regularly providing training and development opportunities and giving development milestones to achieve.
• Lead by example, modeling a calm, can do attitude and instilling a collaborative mindset across teams and departments.
• Maintain a consistent feedback loop that recognizes PACE (Performance, Attitude, Collaboration, Engagement)
• Build department assets including but not limited to training programs, job descriptions, communication structures etc. This includes proper development of SOP for daily tasks, changeover guidance, machine setting guidance, and development of forms and checklists to ensure these activities are completed correctly.
• Ensure the team follows Standard Operating Procedures and safety regulations and update the safety regulations and SOP’s as necessary investigating deviations and providing Root Cause Corrective actions when deviations occur.
• Troubleshoot any problems brought to you by packaging staff working to leverage their skill sets when feasible and escalating to Senior management when the problem is beyond your scope of responsibility.
• Collaborate with other department managers as needed to guide use of resources and personnel where necessary to generate win/win outcomes.
• Ensure the set-up, breakdown and cleaning of the production lines is efficient while maintaining quality and safety standards. Ensures on-time startups, shutdowns, and changeovers minimizing downtime and overtime.
• Maintains Operator Equipment PM’s and department master sanitation schedule.
• Develops strategic staffing and training plans to ensure the department is staffed and trained to manage volume changes or new product launches.
• Take the lead with the supply chain team to troubleshoot material issues, qualify new materials, and coordinate with vendors to troubleshoot packaging issues.
• Take the lead with the R and D team during new product launches to ensure all customer expectations are met.
• Mine data and identify opportunities for projects and initiatives in respect to relevant packaging quotas, problem solving, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Review weekly loss data identifying key issues and developing action plans to reduce the amount of downtime and scrap to meet efficiency and scrap targets.
• Proactively identify capital project ideas and cost savings opportunities to lower overall cost per case.
• Partner with the maintenance manager to help with identification of potential technical issues to ensure there are plans to address.
• Ensure all packaging documentation is up to date and accurately populated maintaining document control.
• Ensure GMP standards are followed
• Develop a positive and collaborative working environment. ‘
• Develop an attitude of excellence in all areas by example and by coaching.
• Ensure all team members are properly oriented and trained to accomplish assigned tasks successfully, without injury, incident or exposure.
• Provide the necessary audit and coaching daily via review of individual Employee process intervention assessments with the intention of eliminating all exposures for workplace injuries and illnesses.
• Report promptly all incidents involving safety and health, and lead the investigation, root cause determination and elimination of further exposure for any employee.
• Conduct routine active Team maintenance and review of key performance indicators (KPI’s) always striving to improve performance.
• Ensure department representation in safety squad meetings.
• Complete Root Cause Analysis and develop corrective action plans for all injuries that occur within the department.
• Ensure all Employees are properly oriented and trained to accomplish assigned tasks successfully within all legally mandated or internally prescribed environmental compliance limits.
• Report promptly all incidents involving environmental non-compliance, and actively participate in the investigation, root cause determination and elimination of further exposure for any employee.
• Understand all process and product specifications/requirements deemed necessary to meet Customer and cost expectations.
• Ensure that product being produced meets standards of quality (caps fastened appropriately, liquid level appropriate, labels level, boxes secure)
• Act as the Teams’ expert resource for continuous improvement efforts.
• Lead root cause analysis and develop corrective actions for all Packaging department related holds, quality deviations, and complaints.
• Ensure documentation, training procedures, and department area cleanliness and GMP’s meet required guidelines of SQF.
• Participate in Facility Food Safety internal audits and complete assigned actions items as required.
• Exhibit behavior to the Team that promotes and recognizes importance around conformance to production schedules (i.e., promises made to Customers).
• Personalize the Team's purpose for work … understand the Company’s Customers and products in order to connect/communicate the product expectations under Quality with the Customer expectations/requirements under Customer Service.
• Communicate a sense of urgency and priority to the Team. Work must be done safely, fully compliant, as expected by and promised to the Customer, in a cost-effective/profitable manner.
• Ensure actions reflect a sense of urgency and flex out of other lower priority tasks when needed to ensure production needs are met.
• Actively coach Employees to identify process waste in all forms, assist the Company in defining and quantifying the waste, then participate in the elimination of the waste (i.e., make it gone, forever).
• Be the department expert in the ERP system to ensure ability to train and assist the team in maintaining compliance and real-time input of ERP data across all departments
• Responsible for the accuracy of all packaging ERP data.
• Support finance team and update Packaging SOPs as required when new processes are implemented or updated to meet customer requirements.
• Develop an attitude of cleanliness in all areas by example and by coaching.
• Monitor, maintain and complete the factory Master Sanitation Schedule.
• Manage chemical and lab supply vendors leveraging new technology as available and exploring cost savings opportunities to maintain Fixed Overhead Budget to target for the full year.
• Maintains oversight with night shift sanitation team providing necessary guidance and oversight to ensure critical tasks are completed.
• Manage chemical and sanitation supplies to ensure all items needed for operation are kept in stock.
• Maintains receiving, warehousing, and distribution operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program, operational, and personnel policies and procedures.
• Safeguards warehouse operations and contents by establishing and monitoring security procedures and protocols.
• Maintains physical condition of warehouse by planning and implementing new design layouts; inspecting equipment; issuing work orders for repair and requisitions for replacement.
• Completes warehouse operational requirements by scheduling and assigning employees; following up on work results.

Food Safety and Quality Responsibilities

• Follow GMP policy when in the production facility and encourage your team to do the same.
• Understand our SQF policies relating to pest control, visitors, allergen management, and cleaning and sanitation.
• Demonstrate awareness of Management's Commitment to SQF and work towards Food Safety and Quality and help the company meet this commitment.
• If there is a problem that involves food quality and safety, report to the Quality Assurance Manager so that the CAPA (corrective action, preventative action) log may be filled out, the situation be investigated, and resolved with the goal of continuous improvement of food quality and safety.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Skilled in scheduling and process optimization for packaging operation
• Strong Interpersonal Skills (communication, coaching, setting expectations, providing feedback holding team members accountable)
• Demonstrated problem solving/decision making skills
• Ability to work as part of a team and lead others to work as a team
• Strong appreciation for and understanding of what motivates people
• Strong sense of personal prioritization around safety, compliance, quality, customer & quantity
• Attention to detail and a relentless drive to improve
• Proficient in google drive, sheets, and Microsoft Office programs, word, excel, power point, etc.
• High standard of cleanliness
• Proficiency with pallet jacks and forklift
• Awareness and ability to teach body mechanics when lifting or performing repetitive tasks
• Positive and team-oriented attitude.
• Must have a high stress tolerance, manufacturing is a high-pressure environment

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Associate degree in production management, business or engineering preferred
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively challenging management of people and their performance in a manufacturing environment with proven results
• Management experience in a food or beverage manufacturing environment strongly preferred
• Prior bottling and canning experience preferred.
• Experienced in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement Processes
• Experience with ERP systems preferred

Work Environment/Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must remain aware of forklifts and pallet jack traffic
• Noisy; some areas may be dusty. May encounter extreme swings in temperature.
• Requires standing, walking, pushing, pulling, walking on wet surfaces and lifting on occasion.
• Occasional lifting and maneuvering of heavy equipment and/or parts.
• Ability to work outside in inclement weather on occasion.
• Ability to partner lift up to 50 pounds

EEO Statement

AKM provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as directed to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• packaging surpervisory: 3 years (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Wilmington, NC 28401: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person