Senior Director, Live Operations at Simmons Prepared Foods, Inc. in Gentry, Arkansas

Job Description:

Purpose of the Position

Contributes to the development of the organization's strategic goals by providing leadership and direction to all live operations divisions, including breeder and broiler operations, live haul and catching crews, feed milling and delivery, and hatcheries.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a Salary Exempt position.

Direct Operations to achieve company goals. Oversee all phases of the operation for live production: broilers, breeders/hatcheries, feed milling and delivery, contract and company live haul drivers and catching crews, all contract growers/producers, live production warehouse and company chicken store. Achieves business objectives while ensuring cost effectiveness, timeliness and accuracy of production as well as high product quality and workplace safety. Promotes Simmons mission and values, and supports the objectives and initiatives of the company strategy outlined by the executive leadership team. Guides and develops cooperative relationships between key functional areas of Live Operations. Hires, assigns and coaches the key technical and managerial personnel of the facilities to ensure effective performance.

Create a Continuous Improvement Culture : Develops a continuous improvement culture for operations management as well as responsibilities being performed in order to improve in processes and continually find ways to drive out waste. Accomplishes quality performance which meets or exceeds facility, company, and federal guidelines for a total quality program and customer relations.

Emphasizes a safe work environment: Promotes a safe work environment as well as meets safety requirements complying with all policies or regulations set forth by Simmons, OSHA, or various government agencies concerning safety, environment, handling of food products, packaging, ingredients and any related items. Ensures the facilities are operated in a safe and environmentally responsible manner and conforms to OSHA, ADEQ, and other regulatory and company standards. Insures plant compliance with all local, state and federal laws, regulations and rulings as related to production and delivery, such as D.O.T., O.S.H.A. and pollution control as recommended by the Company.

Ensures facility and department compliance with all local, state and federal laws, regulations and rulings as related to live production and delivery as recommended by the Company and other regulatory standards.

Manages employees. Directs and supervises employees' work activities and monitors work performance. Collaborates with Human Resources to screen, interview and hire candidates. Administers disciplinary actions and recommends performance improvement actions in collaboration with the HR Manager. Monitors work performance and recommends compensation decisions based on guidelines. Follows Simmons values to develop and maintain a favorable working relationship with all employees. Promotes a cooperative and harmonious environment in order to facilitate positive employee morale, productivity, and continued improvement.

Participates as a member of the Team . Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons' established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position's role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Presents information to small or large groups. Must be able to be on call 24/7 as needed. Move about in broiler/breeder houses and surrounding properties under extreme weather conditions as needed. Must be able to work in extreme weather conditions and dark environments as needed. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May travel via car to various work locations.

Travel: Travels to and from multiple facilities, work-sites, or customer locations, occasionally requiring overnight stays. Travel may be up to 10%.

Technical Experience: 10 Years experience in Live Operations Management within a food or poultry processing or manufacturing organization.

Industry Experience: Preference for poultry organization.

Minimum Education : Bachelor's degree in Poultry Science or related field, or 4 years equivalent experience.

Preferred Education : N/A