Ajinomoto Foods North America Looking for Sr. Regional Engineering Manager in UNAVAILABLE, Telecommute/Work Remotely Full Time

Provides leadership and management for all project engineering and management for Ajinomoto Food’s Midwest facilities. Provides effective management of the Capital Appropriation Program for these facilities including budgeting, reporting, and delivery to scope-schedule-budget and budget. Directs, coordinates, and as necessary manages key major projects for the projects at these facilities. Provides engineering technical direction and guidance in support of new process development initiatives, food safety initiatives, EHS & risk management efforts, infrastructure improvements, and process, packaging and improvements in these facilities. Works with these operations to provide overall alignment, best practices, and effective allocation of all engineering and major maintenance initiatives. Provides support for all regulatory work and ensures projects are completed in compliance with environmental, safety, and all applicable codes.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership of the project engineering and management for several Midwest manufacturing facilities.
• Coaches and mentors a team of engineers ( 4 direct reports) and provides guidance to the maintenance leaders in the Midwest network. Works to create overall long-term synergy in the plants with OSS TPM and Operations leadership.
• Drives technical solutions and ensures effective project management on all key projects, major maintenance, and other critical facility work.
• Oversees project management for Midwest region based on PMO and JEM concept.
• Manages the capital planning and effective spending for several Midwest manufacturing facilities.
• Member of engineering leadership team responsible for the strategic and tactical planning, effective delivery of the capital plan and MTP, plant operations engineering technical support, and development and utilization of our engineering resources.
• Works closely and collaboratively with engineering leaders to deliver solutions and projects to the facilities.
• Partners with Directors of Operations, OSS leaders and General Managers to identify and deliver cost improvement projects to the business.
• Provides engineering technical support as needed for food safety, safety and or environmental initiatives.
• As may be required acts as Project Manager for very large, complex, and or critical projects.
• Provides technical support to R&D, Marketing, and OSS Packaging groups for new product and process development.
• Provides technical support to Quality Assurance for Food Safety and Product Quality initiatives.
• Active industry networking to keep current or food manufacturing leading edge practices, process, and equipment.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering is required and a minimum of 10 years of managing food, or like industry engineering project management.
• Demonstrated success in leading and managing large teams and capital projects within budget and on-time.
• A minimum of 15 years of progressive engineering management and or project engineering management responsibilities.
• Direct experience in a USDA manufacturing environment.
• Experience in leading, directing, and managing technical resources for a multi-site food manufacturing operation.
• A minimum of 5 years of plant operations and or maintenance experience.
• A demonstrated general understanding of environmental regulatory compliance.
• A demonstrated general understanding of safety regulatory compliance.
• A demonstrated general understanding of food quality and food safety programs.
• Strong manufacturing knowledge including process engineering, packaging and materials handling engineering in a food production environment.
• Strong manufacturing knowledge of food conversion processes including cooking, cooling and freezing processes.
• A working knowledge of the design, construction and maintenance of food processing facilities including all mechanical utilities systems (Steam and condensate systems, water systems, plumbing and wastewater, compressed air and custom gas systems, pneumatic and hydraulic systems), ammonia refrigeration systems and HVAC, building structural related systems, etc.
• A solid understanding of engineering and construction contracts and practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must be able to effectively communicate at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and activities.
• Solid leadership skills to effectively manage direct or indirect resources throughout the organization.
• Must be able to travel for project responsibility. Overall travel would be estimated to be between 30% – 50% on an annual basis. During major project work that may increase to more than 50% of the time for periods of time of major activities.