Job Description

Job Summary:

The Director of Meat Snacks/ Formulation is responsible for improving the performance of the Meat Snacks and Formulations departments through Lean production systems, problem-solving, performance initiatives, and team training. They will collaborate with departments like quality assurance, logistics, and continuous improvement to ensure smooth production and meet expectations. Key duties include managing operations, ensuring product quality, optimizing efficiency, maintaining safety standards, and complying with food safety regulations. This role also oversees Operations Supervisors and off-shift teams to ensure quality production and a safe food manufacturing environment throughout the entire production cycle.

Office Environment: 57% of the work is conducted in an office setting, involving time spent on computer research, project management, and communication with team members and stakeholders. Frequent participation in both in-person and virtual meetings, including project updates, strategy sessions, and presentations to management and stakeholders.

Production Environment: 40% Regular visits to the production areas will involve exposure to machinery, noise, varying temperatures, humidity, and wet conditions.

Travel: <3% Occasional travel for training, meetings, conferences, etc.

Schedule: Flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed based on operational requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Production Management
2. Monitors plant metrics identifies root cause for less than desirable results and demonstrates the skills and focus needed for continuous improvement.
3. Ensures appropriate resources (including materials, equipment, and staffing needs) are available to maintain meat snacks and formulation schedules.
4. Supports continuous improvement processes to ensure that goals in safety, quality, cost, and customer service are met.
5. Diagnose and evaluate off-shift performance (safety, cost, quality, delivery) challenges stemming from plant demand management and forecasting, inventory management, capacity and production planning, and production process design and execution.
6. Develop and implement plant solutions based on Lean Production system design, tools, and techniques.
7. Make recommendations, develop new manufacturing plans, and implement them to achieve improved efficiency and effectiveness.
8. Enforces daily commitment to performance boards and statistical process control.

1. Team Leadership & Development
2. Creates, leads, and maintains team members engaged by improving and executing plant processes and results.
3. Manages team members in attaining production and quality goals.
4. Assist Supervisors in resolving production and employee-related concerns.
5. Supports and sets expectations that standardized work will be utilized and kept current while seeking opportunities to ensure it is part of our culture.
6. Coordinate shift activities by providing production details, staffing issues, and lean initiative updates.
7. Assist the Plant leadership team in assessing the progress of Lean Manufacturing initiatives and programs underway at the plant.
8. Coach front-line supervisors to manage their time, activity, and behavior to drive planned and scheduled opportunity generation and capture vs. reactive problem-solving.
9. Develop and maintain strong performance management practices to support the organization’s participative management approach, ensuring that formal management programs are implemented and followed throughout the operation.

1. Food Safety & Compliance
2. Participate in the design of work standards, quality control charts, and systems in addition to other elements of superior manufacturing practice to aid plant improvement.
3. Ensure compliance with safety rules and regulations ensuring the maintenance of a safe and sanitary plant in accordance with all state, federal, and company regulations.
4. Take appropriate action to ensure the integrity of the SQF system.
5. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications :

1. Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, business administration, or related field; or equivalent professional experience preferred.
2. Broad manufacturing experience including 5+ years of experience in leadership roles.
3. Proven leadership, persuasive, initiative, analytical, and communication skills are necessary for success in this position.
4. Independent judgment with analytical skills in formulating decisions concerning different problems.
5. Strong problem-solving, lean thinking, and statistical process control skills.
6. Demonstrated multi-tasking and project management skills.
7. Excellent communication, planning, and organizational skills.
8. Proven track record in managing large teams, production schedules, and budgets.
9. Ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives and manage change effectively.

Working Conditions/ Physical Requirements:

1. Regular visits to production areas will involve exposure to machinery, high noise levels, varying temperatures, humidity, and wet conditions.
2. Must be comfortable sharing office space with other professionals and performing repetitive, computer-based tasks. This includes extended periods of sitting, reaching with hands and arms, and using input devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and other tools. The role requires maintaining focus on detailed screen work for prolonged durations, including tasks such as data analysis, report preparation, and troubleshooting operational issues.
3. Must be able to sit, stand, walk, reach, stretch, stoop, and bend for extended periods.
4. Ability to work around ingredients and/or finished products containing food allergens.
5. Must be able to communicate through various channels, including phone, email, face-to-face, and videoconferencing, effectively building and presenting organized data and plans to executive leadership, internal and external groups of various sizes, and key stakeholders.

The physical demands described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job. Other duties or tasks may be assigned as required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Cloverdale Foods Company offers a competitive compensation package and an excellent benefits program. For confidential consideration, please send your resume to HRDept@cloverdalefoods.com or Fax: 701-663-0690. To comply with government recordkeeping requirements, please go to and send us a completed Online Application along with your resume/cover letter.

Cloverdale Foods Company is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

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