Vice President of Manufacturing

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Prairie AquaTech Manufacturing, LLC dba Houdek is a manufacturing company based in Volga South Dakota that is improving animal health and nutrition by providing high-quality feed ingredients. Using patent-pending technologies licensed on a worldwide, exclusive basis from South Dakota State University and developed internally, the Company is upgrading soybean meal to high-quality ingredients used in aquaculture and other animal feeds.

JOB DUTIES

The Vice President of Manufacturing will report directly to the CEO and work closely with the Chief Commercialization Officer and the Vice President of Research. This critical role is responsible for leading and enhancing a skilled team to support the operational and expansion needs of our 30,000-ton-per-year protein ingredient manufacturing facility. Key responsibilities include overseeing production, logistics, maintenance, safety, and quality control, as well as managing both capital and operational expenses.

We are seeking a Guru of Operational Excellence and Industrial Biological Processing, a process-oriented leader who thrives on making data-driven decisions in a fast-paced environment. If you excel in these areas and are looking for a role where your contributions will directly influence our growth trajectory, we encourage you to apply.

• Lead all aspects of production and related operations
• Assure the company employs the right people in the right places doing the right things
• Hire/train employees to be accountable for standard operating procedures and company values
• Manage employee performance against goals, technical skills, and value demonstration on a frequent basis, including improvement plans and termination, as required
• Schedule resources appropriately to meet the needs of production, warehousing, and logistics
• Create standard work and work standards
• Deliver high-quality products on time and on budget
• Review major consumables purchased with the Director of Supply Chain (SBM, NG)
• Review environmental permits to keep the plant in compliance
• Analyze and report on key operational metrics in alignment with the company's objectives
• Assure the highest quality handling, processing, and storage of final products and raw materials
• Manage production schedules, work instructions, and production inventories
• Inspect, analyze, and recommend ways of improving production quality and efficiency
• Lead by example and support planning for personnel and facility safety
• Support compliance with all company policies and federal, state, and local regulations, including OSHA
• Support compliance with all feed/food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements, including FSMA, GMP+, and SQF
• Support maintenance activities by assessing equipment operating reliability and performing routine repairs, adjustments, and troubleshooting
• Manage month-end and cycle inventory counts to ensure book-to-physical inventory reconciliation
• Serve as an active participant and leader in meetings and training
• Collaborate cross-functionally
• Delegate appropriately

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certified
• Advanced Degree in Chemical / Mechanical Engineering and/or Industrial Microbiology
• 10+ Years of Food and/or Feed Ingredient Production Experience
• 10+ Years of Advanced Operational Experience Leading People, Processes, and Facilities
• B.S. in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering or Industrial Microbiology
• 5-10 years of leadership experience in industrial biological-based manufacturing environment, such as fermentation, enzyme processing, or feed or food ingredient production
• Experience with Lean Six Sigma principles
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office
• Demonstration of data-driven decision making
• Knowledge of quality systems and standards
• Strong communication and team-building skills
• High ethical standards and professional behavior
• Coaching, mentoring, and motivational skills to drive others to want to be their best
• Highly organized, process-driven and detail-oriented
• Experience with individual and team accountability to meet business expectations for manufacturing operations
• Current with the emerging landscape of manufacturing technologies
• Ability to multi-task, think creatively, and delegate to ensure goals are accomplished on time