Plant Technical Manager - Joplin, MO Plant

POSITION OVERVIEW

In Team Joplin, we lead with Safety. We are the supplier of choice through our culture founded in pride, ownership, and excellence. We deliver results, we live our Manufacturing Excellence principles every day and we look for engaging leaders and top talent to join our team. Team Joplin is structured with 2 product platforms - Frozen Dough and Refrigerated Dough supporting North American Foodservice and the Meals & Baking retail businesses.

The Plant Technical Manager (PTM) provides technical leadership and expertise to a 580-employee plant, directly influencing its strategic and tactical direction. This key leadership role encompasses oversight of the engineering and maintenance organization (comprising 11 direct reports, 54 wage team members, and 6 indirect salaried team members), ensuring efficient operations and successful execution of capital projects. The PTM collaborates closely with plant leadership, the HQ Engineering Organization, and business teams to deliver results, drive strategic automation and cost savings initiatives, and provide critical technical support, including for the plant's substantial refrigeration system (130,000+ lbs. of ammonia).

The position reports to the Plant Manager and has a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Sr. Engineering Business Manager.

To learn more about our Joplin plant and surrounding area click here!

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Leadership

• Development of site strategic plan for technical staffing, capital investment, general competencies, and system/technology improvements
• Coaching, mentoring, and development of plant technical resources
• Accountability for management of external technical relationships with A/E firms, contractors, and equipment vendors
• Provide technical leadership and site compliance with EPA and OSHA requirements in concert with designated functional experts
• Provide site leadership to achieve maximization/optimization of capital assets and site utilization as well as lead safety initiatives in technical areas
• Champion progression in Manufacturing Excellence

Capital Planning & Execution

• Develop short-term and long-range capital investment plans for facility and be accountable for the planning and execution of all projects
• Responsible for the capital investment process for the site (e.g. standards, project management, capital approval, etc.)

Vertical Start Up/Continuous Improvement

• Develop and support strategies that integrate Vertical Start Up (VSU) and Continuous Improvement methodologies into the Master Plan
• Provide leadership for the application of VSU/CI, tools, and training to meet business objectives
• Provide site leadership for technical solutions to operational problems including systems optimization, debottlenecking, and troubleshooting
• Accountable for the strategy, design and implementation of control systems and manufacturing information systems

Maintenance & Reliability

• Maintenance competency including facility skills (boilers, Ammonia Systems) & regulatory knowledge (safety & environment)
• Coach and develop Maintenance and Facilities teams to integrate Maintenance into our Manufacturing Excellence journey. Provide strategy and support for maintenance programs, development of tools and resources, personnel selection, training and development Integrate Maintenance into the strategy for the broader technical community at the plant
• Ensure the proper selection, training, development and motivation of leaders to maximize current and future performance
• Lead and support plant continuous improvement initiatives
• Contribute as an integral part of a senior plant leadership team to drive the plant strategy and culture

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or related degree with applicable experience or extensive relevant work experience
• 8+ years of technical experience in project engineering, systems or process engineering, facilities management, or technical discipline engineering in a manufacturing environment with maintenance experience
• Strong track record of engineering aptitude, ability to apply engineering principles, and problem solving
• Strong leadership skills, including experience leading others in projects or programs, and the ability to successfully interact with individuals representing other areas or interests and the ability to manage team leaders & mechanics
• Understanding and experience interacting with multiple business functions, including Quality Control, Purchasing, Distribution, Human Resources, Finance and especially Operations
• Ability to identify potential business solutions involving a broad scope of thinking across businesses and functions to develop new innovation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering
• Experience directly leading maintenance teams
• Experience directly leading a team of engineers
• Experience with industrial and/or labor relations from working in a manufacturing environment
• Knowledge of and experience with manufacturing improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma, TPM, Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Excellence, or Lean Manufacturing

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• International relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.
• Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas.

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what's next.