Plant Engineering Director (remote) - Minnesota

Plant Engineering Director (Remote)

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Dairy Brands, a dairy marketing cooperative owned by more than 12,500 family farmers, is looking for a Plant Engineering Director (Remote) position. As the position is remote, the Plant Engineering Director will travel 60-70% and support our Central Region. The preferred candidate should reside in Minnesota.

Direct engineering activities in support of current and future plant requirements and short- and long-range divisional objectives. Provide engineering and design expertise to plant engineers, management, and senior leadership. Manage capital spending, major plant repair expenses, and development of capital projects. Partner with operations, finance, quality control, purchasing, safety, environmental, and other departments to coordinate all phases of engineering. Support multiple plants for an entire division, group, or region.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as an internal expert on manufacturing engineering and design related issues or opportunities
• Work cross-functionally with plant management and engineers to develop priorities that ensure direct alignment with manufacturing and division objectives
• Continually strive to reduce facility and manufacturing operating costs by providing best option technical solutions and/or utilizing best method analyses towards improving internal systems; ensure facility operating systems achieve optimum manufacturing process efficiencies
• Utilize best practices across locations to drive continuous improvement for equipment reliability and maintenance department cost controls; drive consistency and standardization
• Assist in the direction and planning of capital budgets
• Evaluate major capital projects to ensure the best approach and method is used to efficiently spend capital funds
• Actively support plant management and engineers in the justification of projects, accurate development of project costs, and submission of capital projects
• Lead and/or oversee the planning, design, procurement, installation, start-up, and training for all capital projects, especially for projects that span an entire division, group, or region
• Complete preliminary and final design of production lines and new equipment
• Develop preliminary cost estimates for production of new or modified products for marketing and sales teams
• Professionally develop plant engineers and maintenance managers
• Encourage positive cross-functional communication between production and engineering teams
• Maintain current and broad knowledge to ensure accurate engineering support to management and plant staff
• Ensure all plant environmental policies and procedures reflect current DFA guidelines and regulatory requirements and proper reporting is completed
• Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all corporate regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements

The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Benefits:

• Health and Welfare benefits begin 1st of the month after start date
• 401(k) with company contribution – 100% vested at day one of eligibility
• Competitive pay ($165,000 - $195,000)
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Career growth opportunities – we promote from within!
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Service recognition and employee rewards
• Employee referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Work for dairy farm families

Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in engineering or related curriculum or technical training in related mechanical or electrical studies (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• 10 or more years of progressive engineering, maintenance, or related experience in a food manufacturing environment that includes team or project leadership experience, environmental compliance experience, PLC programming, and capital project and budget management experience

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of architectural, mechanical, electrical, and process production engineering
• Able to lead multiple and complex projects or initiatives
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
• Strong skill in critical thinking, analysis, mathematical calculations, and statistical evaluations
• Able to consider both strategic and practical implications for proposed course of action
• Able to communicate and translate complex technical topics into easy to understand concepts
• Able to establish effective relationships and independently manage those relations with all levels of internal staff and external customers, business partners, and vendors
• Able to handle challenging or conflict situations with tact and professionalism
• Able to effectively lead others through change
• Must be able to read, write and speak English

Reporting to this Position: None

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans

Pay Range $165,000 - $195,000