Project Leader - Belvidere, IL Plant

Belvidere Overview

Belvidere is a manufacturing facility of approximately 700 employees serving the Snacks Operating Unit and Convenienceand Foodservice Segment. We operate in a dynamic business environment, with a rich history of performance, innovation and renovation. Recently, we added Natural and Organic bars and Fruit by the Foot production into our portfolio after divesting Green Giant, which concluded over 120 years of vegetable growing and manufacturing. We are continuing to evolve to a more complex product portfolio to meet the changing needs of our consumers and customers (organic, non-GMO, new packing formats). The Belvidere plant is a very strategic and critical plant to both the NAR and C&F Segments and continues to be a magnet for investment and growth.

We operate in a dynamic business environment with a culture that values safety, teamwork, wellness and more! If you ask what some of the things that the team members value more in Belvidere are, you will hear that we are family-oriented, foster a culture of teamwork, enjoy great wellness programs, employee giveaways and family appreciation day.

Job Overview

The Project Leader provides improvement and transformation focused initiative leadership for the Platform Team. They are responsible for the platform's Improvement Plan and leading large scale and/or cross functional business initiatives with the plan. The Project Leader plays an integral role in ensuring the business needs and plant performance goals are achieved through successful management of improvement goals, resources, and timing along with start-up manager duties.

To learn more about our Belvidere Plant and the surrounding community, click here!

Primary Duties/Responsibilities (% of time)

Safety (5%)

Lead food and human safety through Safety 2.0 leadership principles and standards:

• • Cultivate Human Safety Culture that reduces risk by increasing capability to proactively discuss, identify and control risk.
    
  • Cultivate Food Safety Culture that is committed to manufacturingsafe food that iscompliant with policyand regulatory requirements.
    
  • Prioritize HSE improvements based on platform needs.

Initiative Leadership (35%)

• • Role model Engaging Leader Behaviors.
  • Works cross-functionally to organize plant trials, including providing on-the-floor leadership and/or support for execution and debrief of results to key stakeholders.
  • Leverage and influence standard work and project management skills to effectively lead cross-functional teams (Operations, Logistics, Sourcing, R&D) to deliver expected results.

Process Leadership and Ownership (30%)

Driving System Utilization (DSU) & Improvement Plan:

• • Facilitate the execution of initiatives across the platform to achieve business results. This is inclusive of Improvement Plan and Business driven activities on the platform.
  • Track quarterly ideas, goals, timing, and resources.
  • Integrate ideas, plans, and pipeline for the Platform Team (examples: human safety, food safety, capital projects, waste, new products, HMM).
  • Own communication to and from Supply Chain Project Managers for platform focused initiatives.

Vertical Start-Up (VSU):

• • Execute Startup Manager duties for prioritized initiatives that require a start-up manager.
  • Lead Black-hats and partner with Training Coordinator to deliver TT&T as needed.

Know your Operation, Data and Technology (20%)

• • Secure knowledge to collect, analyze and interpret manufacturing data to make informed decisions (Big 6).
  • Build a comprehensive understanding of the production system, equipment and the product transformation process.
  • Gain understanding of inventory management principles, material specifications, quality control procedures, and traceability systems for Ingredients, Materials and Finished Products.
  • Develop a base understanding of daily management and process ownership across the team (examples: DH, CL, CIL, etc.).
  • Obtain proficiency in project management inclusive of Start-Up Manager (SUM) and Vertical Start-Up (VSU).

Back-Up Support (10%)

This position will provide backup support as needed, ensuring business continuity and operational efficiency.

• • Platform Manager
  • System Engineer (Test, Trial support)

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• 3 years of manufacturing experience
• Demonstrated leadership and working in a highly collaborative environment
• Success in driving results through process and teamwork
• Proven success reducing losses and improving performance in a manufacturing setting
• Demonstrated technical capability and knowledge of unit operations and machinery (at least one production platform)
• Working knowledge of data analysis systems (examples: SAP, Maximo, Manufacturing Analytics, MQIS) and decision making for results
• Skilled at communicating between work groups, cross-functional resources, and other members of the plant
• Proficient understanding of project leadership (start-up management, project management, strategic planning)

Preferred Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or related degree with applicable experience or extensive relevant work experience
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience