Zentis North America LLC
About Zentis:
Zentis is Europe's number one fruit processing company and one of the leading brand manufacturers of jams, sweets and custard-based desserts. The Company's North American operations are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Plymouth, Indiana, where we produce fruit and dairy preparations for a variety of customers including yogurt, ice cream and bakery manufacturers.
Job Summary:
Lead and optimize all aspects of plant operations to ensure safety, quality, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Drive continuous improvement initiatives, foster a high-performance culture, and ensure alignment with organizational goals. Leverage resources effectively to deliver operational excellence in a dynamic food manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Oversee End-to-End Production Operations: Ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production processes by enforcing workplace safety and food safety protocols. Lead daily production meetings and performance reviews. Monitor production schedules and capacity planning. Ensure equipment reliability and preventive maintenance. Manage KPIs such as Right First Time (RFT), Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Production Yield, and Unplanned Downtime. Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams:
Manage and mentor supervisors and frontline staff. Drive employee engagement and accountability. Conduct performance evaluations and succession planning. Oversee hiring, onboarding, and disciplinary actions. Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous learning. Manage KPIs such as Training Completion Rate, Worker Productivity (lbs/hr), Employee Satisfaction Score, Leadership Effectiveness Score, and Turnover Rate. Data-Driven Operational Decision Making:
Utilize production data to identify trends and improve performance. Analyze daily/weekly production metrics. Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions. Forecast production needs and resource allocation. Manage KPIs such as Cost Variance, Scrap Rate, Efficiency Variance, and Schedule Adherence. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Align goals by facilitating interdepartmental communication with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, HR, etc. Support strategic initiatives and project execution. Align operations with business objectives. Manage KPIs such as Project Completion Rate and Strategy Implementation Success. Regulatory and Food Safety Compliance
Ensure adherence to food safety and regulatory standards. Maintain HACCP, GMP, and other certifications. Conduct internal audits and corrective actions, establish preventive controls. Update SOPs and safety protocols. Manage KPIs such as Audit Pass Rate, Compliance Score, and Incident Frequency. Production Inventory Management
Manage raw material and finished goods inventory. Monitor and ensure material usage and loss. Coordinate with supply chain for inventory accuracy. Manage KPIs such as Material Loss Rate and Inventory Accuracy. Drive Continuous Improvement & Lean Initiatives
Champion Lean, TPM, and Kaizen methodologies. Lead CI projects to eliminate waste and improve flow. Standardize work processes and visual management. Foster a culture of innovation and employee involvement. Manage KPIs such as CI Project ROI, Waste Reduction Rate, Kaizen Event Participation, and TPM Implementation Score. Key Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field Advanced degree (MBA, MS) preferred Minimum 5 years in operations/production leadership in food manufacturing. Proven success in managing large teams and complex operations. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and Operational Excellence. Strong technical understanding of production equipment. Strategic thinking and autonomous decision-making. Excellent communication and leadership skills. Employee development and performance management. Problem-solving and adaptability in fast-paced environments.
EOE/M/F/H/V
Zentis is Europe's number one fruit processing company and one of the leading brand manufacturers of jams, sweets and custard-based desserts. The Company's North American operations are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Plymouth, Indiana, where we produce fruit and dairy preparations for a variety of customers including yogurt, ice cream and bakery manufacturers.
Job Summary:
Lead and optimize all aspects of plant operations to ensure safety, quality, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Drive continuous improvement initiatives, foster a high-performance culture, and ensure alignment with organizational goals. Leverage resources effectively to deliver operational excellence in a dynamic food manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Oversee End-to-End Production Operations: Ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production processes by enforcing workplace safety and food safety protocols. Lead daily production meetings and performance reviews. Monitor production schedules and capacity planning. Ensure equipment reliability and preventive maintenance. Manage KPIs such as Right First Time (RFT), Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Production Yield, and Unplanned Downtime. Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams:
Manage and mentor supervisors and frontline staff. Drive employee engagement and accountability. Conduct performance evaluations and succession planning. Oversee hiring, onboarding, and disciplinary actions. Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous learning. Manage KPIs such as Training Completion Rate, Worker Productivity (lbs/hr), Employee Satisfaction Score, Leadership Effectiveness Score, and Turnover Rate. Data-Driven Operational Decision Making:
Utilize production data to identify trends and improve performance. Analyze daily/weekly production metrics. Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions. Forecast production needs and resource allocation. Manage KPIs such as Cost Variance, Scrap Rate, Efficiency Variance, and Schedule Adherence. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Align goals by facilitating interdepartmental communication with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, HR, etc. Support strategic initiatives and project execution. Align operations with business objectives. Manage KPIs such as Project Completion Rate and Strategy Implementation Success. Regulatory and Food Safety Compliance
Ensure adherence to food safety and regulatory standards. Maintain HACCP, GMP, and other certifications. Conduct internal audits and corrective actions, establish preventive controls. Update SOPs and safety protocols. Manage KPIs such as Audit Pass Rate, Compliance Score, and Incident Frequency. Production Inventory Management
Manage raw material and finished goods inventory. Monitor and ensure material usage and loss. Coordinate with supply chain for inventory accuracy. Manage KPIs such as Material Loss Rate and Inventory Accuracy. Drive Continuous Improvement & Lean Initiatives
Champion Lean, TPM, and Kaizen methodologies. Lead CI projects to eliminate waste and improve flow. Standardize work processes and visual management. Foster a culture of innovation and employee involvement. Manage KPIs such as CI Project ROI, Waste Reduction Rate, Kaizen Event Participation, and TPM Implementation Score. Key Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field Advanced degree (MBA, MS) preferred Minimum 5 years in operations/production leadership in food manufacturing. Proven success in managing large teams and complex operations. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and Operational Excellence. Strong technical understanding of production equipment. Strategic thinking and autonomous decision-making. Excellent communication and leadership skills. Employee development and performance management. Problem-solving and adaptability in fast-paced environments.
EOE/M/F/H/V