Packaging Manager - Offshift

The construction of fairlife's manufacturing facility in Webster, NY is underway. This state-of-the-art, 750k sq ft, greenfield plant is expected to be operational in late 2025 and will lay the foundation for fairlife's next phase of growth as the leading dairy nutrition provider. While coupling the industry's latest technologies and fairlife's operational excellence to build this world-class facility, fairlife plans to hire 250 new employees and bring in approximately 5 million lbs. of milk a day, with room to grow over the coming years

job purpose:

The Off Shift Packaging Manager works in partnership with the Sr. Packaging Manager, overseeing our 24/7 packaging operations in Webster, NY. This role supports staff across two shifts while leading the department's supervisors, as well as "dotted line" overseeing of Packaging Operation Technicians and operators within filler/blow molder, sleever, case packer, and palletizer work cells. This leadership position will be critical in driving results through the design and implementation of process standards, work routines, and rigor while empowering creative thinking and promoting a decentralized command environment. Aggressively driving changeovers and utilizing a strong continuous improvement focus will be essential to eliminating issues at the root cause versus fixing them. This is a key role in ensuring the flow of bottles and cases across the site is running efficiently within a modern and collaborative work culture for our employees.

responsibilities:

* Play a key role in the startup and commissioning of the new plant, including equipment installation, testing, and validation through collaboration with engineering and project management teams to ensure smooth transitions from construction to production

* Oversee and manage daily operations of the packaging department to ensure optimal production performance with direct oversight of packaging shift supervisors

* Cultivate a culture focused on zero losses through standardization and loss elimination * Utilize a continuous improvement mindset to approach root cause analysis, while leading the development of sustainable problem-solving tools applicable across packaging

* Act as the lead and primary point of contact for all changeover activities, utilizing the Operations Technicians and Operator bench, and aggressively driving a PDCA cadence to constantly improve bottle-to-bottle times and OEE recovery time

* Responsible for leading and managing plant operations within our packaging department while overseeing strategic projects, initiatives, and programs in off shift hours

* Responsible for the results of the packaging department, the right product at the right time ready to be shipped pending micro-release while meeting our strict quality parameters

* Work to establish and cascade relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) throughout the department and ensures timely reporting to peers, team members, and senior leaders

* Review inventories and production plans daily with the site planning team, coordinating schedule demands with staff and product movement personnel

* Support key capital projects and commercialization projects relevant to the packaging department

* Enforce workplace safety protocols to ensure a zero-incident work environment while providing guidance on addressing hazards as they are identified

* Review all nonconforming products and materials with Quality Assurance and Packaging Engineering teams

* Monitor the packaging department across all shifts and assures employee compliance with GMP's, sanitation, and food safety through routine behaviors

* Drive employee engagement for the night shift with programs and activities designed to get the best from all our teams

* Partner with the Maintenance team to ensure all equipment stays in good working condition as well as adhering to routine preventative maintenance plans

* Manage team members across a 24/7 operation with the core focus being on second shift

* Perform other duties as necessary

skills/qualifications:

Required

* Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations management, or other quantitative discipline with a demonstrated and proven knowledge of fluid dynamics in a beverage manufacturing environment, and * At least five (5) years of beverage industry manufacturing experience. Dairy industry with both ESL and Aseptic experience is highly preferred with a demonstrated record of increasing responsibility, or

* Two-Year Technical Certification or Degree in Automotive, Marine, or other Industrial application is preferred, and

* At least one (1) year as Shift Supervisor with demonstrated positive results for repeatable and reproducible schedule attainment.

* Proven experience working in a 24/7 production environment with customers both upstream and downstream in operations, and

* Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to maintain interpersonal collaboration at all levels of the business, and

* Excellent organizational and follow-through skills while handling ambiguity, and

* Successful at meeting production schedules with fast-paced, shifting priorities, and

* Ability to read and understand P&ID's.

Preferred

* Working knowledge of the regulatory and food safety PMO, FDA, PCQI, FSMA, CCPs and thermal processing and Preventive Controls.

* Experience implementing Lean Principles including 5S, TPM, and other strategic initiatives.

* Understanding the chemistry of cleaning and CIP/SIP/COP programs. An understanding of 3A guidelines is preferred.

working conditions and physical requirements:

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 essential functions.

* 10 hours sitting/standing/walking around the production floor

* Ability to lift up to 40 lbs of materials

* Reaching/bending requirements including climbing ladders or elevated areas

* Hand dexterity for operating machinery or computer systems

* Exposure to hazards (machinery noise, confined spaces, chemical handling, etc.)

* Wearing PPE such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and slip-resistant boots

* Specific atmospheric conditions and environmental factors

* Any other physical requirements including desk work, meetings, and data entry

food safety requirements:

* Notify supervision of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.

* Responsible for maintaining critical control points, aseptic requirements, and regulatory standards always.

* Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements and standards as prioritized by the Company.

* Accountable for passing internal and external Quality or Food Safety program audits.

* Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.

* Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.

* Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming product in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.

* In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

position location: Webster, NY

reports to: Sr. Packaging Manager

travel requirements: 75% for the first 2 months, then <10%

exempt/nonexempt: Exempt