Monitor and optimize Clean-in-Place (CIP) and Sterilize-in-Place (SIP) processes.
Promote a safety-first culture and ensure consistent adherence to safe operating practices.
Coordinate with Packaging, Quality, Sanitation, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Supply Chain teams to support seamless plant operations.
Provide visible leadership on the production floor and ensure timely escalation and resolution of operational issues.
Provide leadership coverage for broader site priorities when needed.
Site and Strategic Leadership
Serve as an active member of the Site Leadership Team and contribute to the development and execution of site priorities.
Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve overall plant safety, quality, service, cost, culture, and operational performance.
Use operational and financial data to identify risks, evaluate opportunities, and make sound business recommendations.
Support annual operating plans, departmental budgets, labor planning, capital priorities, and cost-improvement initiatives.
Build effective partnerships across all site functions and influence decisions beyond the processing department.
Support organizational change and create alignment around plant goals, expectations, and performance standards.
Key responsibilities
Con't -
Food Safety and Quality
Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, aseptic-processing requirements, Good Manufacturing Practices, and site food safety standards.
Maintain adherence to HACCP plans, critical control points, preventive controls, and established processing parameters.
Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure product sterility, consistency, and conformance to specifications.
Lead investigations involving process deviations, contamination risks, product holds, and nonconformances.
Ensure corrective and preventive actions are effective and completed within established timelines.
Equipment and Process Optimization
Oversee the operation and performance of processing equipment, including
o UHT and HTST systems
o Homogenizers
o Blending and batching systems
o Aseptic tanks and related processing equipment
o Process-control and automation systems
Analyze process and equipment data to improve efficiency, increase reliability, and reduce downtime.
Lead continuous-improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, yield improvement, process capability, and operational efficiency.
Apply structured problem-solving and root-cause analysis to eliminate recurring issues.
Partner with Maintenance and Engineering on equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, capital improvements, and long-term processing capability.
People and Organizational Leadership
Lead, coach, and develop processing operators, leads, supervisors, and technicians.
Establish clear performance expectations and ensure accountability for safety, quality, productivity, attendance, and workplace conduct.
Manage staffing, scheduling, training, performance evaluations, and employee-development plans.
Build leadership capability and a strong pipeline of employees prepared for increasing levels of responsibility.
Ensure employees are properly trained on aseptic-processing principles, food safety, equipment operation, safety requirements, and standard operating procedures.
Strengthen employee engagement, retention, teamwork, and communication across shifts.
Demonstrate a leadership style that builds trust, promotes accountability, and supports a positive workplace culture.
Compliance and Documentation
Ensure compliance with OSHA requirements and all company safety policies.
Maintain accurate batch records, production logs, process documentation, and audit records.
Ensure standard operating procedures and work instructions are current, accurate, and consistently followed.
Support internal, customer, FDA, BRCGS, Kerry Production System, and other regulatory or certification audits.
Address audit findings and ensure corrective actions are completed within established timelines.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Research and Development on new-product commercialization, production trials, and scale-up.
Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering on preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, reliability, and capital projects.
Coordinate with Supply Chain and Warehouse teams to ensure raw-material availability and production-schedule execution.
Work closely with Quality, Sanitation, Packaging, Human Resources, Finance, and site leadership to manage risks and improve overall plant performance.
Communicate effectively with site and regional leadership regarding operational performance, risks, priorities, and recommended actions.
Qualifications and skills
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Microbiology, Operations Management, Business, or a related field required.
Minimum of eight years of progressive experience in food, beverage, dairy, or a similarly regulated manufacturing environment.
At least five years of successful management experience in a comparable manufacturing operation.
Minimum of three years of direct experience with aseptic or UHT processing required.
Demonstrated career progression with increasing responsibility for people, operations, performance, and business results.
Proven ability to lead through others, influence cross-functional teams, and contribute to broader site-level decisions.
Experience leading in a high-speed, highly automated, and complex manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated interest and capability to grow into positions of broader operational and organizational responsibility.
The pay range for this position is $88,000 - $144,000 in Annual Salary. Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition, this position is also eligible to earn a performance-based incentive compensation. Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement. This job posting is anticipated to expire on 11/30/26
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Kerry is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, military service, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. This commitment applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, and career development. Kerry also takes affirmative action to ensure that minorities, women, disabled veterans, and other protected groups are introduced into our workforce and considered for promotional opportunities.
Ready to make an impact? Apply today and help us deliver better food for a better world.
