Technical Operations Director

Job Summary:

The Technical Operations Director is responsible for the quality and food safety of all flavors produced for our Company's network of concentrate plants. This role ensures Flavor Manufacturing's (FM) mission is accomplished throughout the daily activities taking place at the Apopka, Florida operation: 'Flavor Manufacturing guarantees the continuous supply of cola and other proprietary flavors of unquestionable quality, while promoting a culture of safety, supporting innovation, creating value and protecting the Company's most valuable trade secrets'.

Main Responsibilities:

The Technical Operations Director will oversee all quality, food safety, safety and environmental aspects of the 24/5 production facility for The Coca-Cola Flavor Manufacturing plant in Apopka, Florida. The incumbent will lead and mentor a team of scientists and engineers to drive performance as well as focus on continuous improvement to contribute to the design, development, and execution of an operating model, while meeting Company and regulatory requirements. This is an onsite role.

• Prepare the department budget along with short- and long-term strategies that are in line with site goals and objectives.
• Leads the onsite R&D and Commercialization team. Works with a networked team such as Research & Development (R&D), Ingredient Quality Department (IQD), Ingredient and Product Governance (IPG), Food Safety, Quality, Quality Safety & Environmental (QSE), Commercial Product Supply (CPS) to ensure Company targets and objectives are met.
• Responsible for Safety, Environmental, and Security management.
• Leads and supports the Management System Manager in managing the food safety team, assessing food safety hazards, determining and communicating prerequisite plans, operational prerequisite plans, critical control points, and how each job affects associates. Action plans if controls become ineffective.
• Leads and supports the Management of the Food Defense program for plant and warehouse operations.
• Assesses other risks-financial, worker and public safety, and product quality and determines actions required to eliminate or mitigate unacceptable risks.
• Determines and communicates applicable customer, legal, and religious requirements throughout the food chain and within the organization to ensure compliance.
• Responsible for the development and maintenance of formulas for all products manufactured at Flavor Manufacturing Apopka.
• Ensures that all ingredients and suppliers meet Company and plant requirements.
• Responsible for Master Data in SAP-product, ingredient, and business partner.
• Manages the relationship with the Orthodox Union Rabbinical organization and the local rabbi to obtain Kosher certification for products.
• Manages the relationship with Halal authorities to ensure requirements are met for products certified as Halal suitable.
• Responsible for employing, training, supervising, and accountability of the employees in the department as per company guidelines and policies.
• Reviews product and equipment specifications to ensure conformance to product specifications are realized.
• Reviews all nonconforming product or ingredients and works with team to plan to drive progress to short term and long-term improvements.
• Work with Production, Planning, Maintenance, Warehouse, Customer Service, Transportation, Product Development, Suppliers, Engineering, Quality, HR/LR, Associates and other related departments/teams in finding innovative ways to improve Performance of the site and ensuring plant and company goals are met.
• Lead and/or support capital and OPEX projects
• Work with leadership to develop and execute annual business plans to support business growth and performance.
• Support Employee involvement in Safety, Analytical Problem Solving, Project Planning, Vendor and Customer Relations, fostering a Team atmosphere.
• Participate in the ISO, GMP, FSSC, KORE and other internal audits and own the actions to drive improvements for development of procedures and corrective actions.
• Travel to other sites in the Coca Cola system as needed.
• Perform other duties as necessary and/or assigned.

• Ensure the plant complies and follows Company policies, standards, and guidelines in all aspects of the operation such as safety, quality, environment, Good Manufacturing Practices, financial reporting, information protection, Code of Business Conduct, KORE, etc.
• Guarantee the plant complies and follows United States of America (USA) and Florida state governmental and regulatory requirements (e.g. safety, environmental, financial, tax, work rights, FSMA/FDA, EPA etc.)
• Make certain compliance with applicable regulations and requirements established in ISO standards Quality (ISO 9001) and Food Safety (FSSC 22000) standards. This also includes religious requirements (e.g. Halal, Kosher).
• Ensure compliance with common management system requirements in Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 45001), Environmental (ISO 14001) standards.

• University Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Industrial Chemistry is required.
• Master's degree is considered a plus.

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in a multinational organization's manufacturing facility or in a similar supply chain role with progressive senior positions.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience as head of operations/manufacturing function and a member of manufacturing plant leadership team
• Extensive knowledge of flavors and flavor manufacturing processes as well as citrus oils.
• Demonstrated ability of managing cost and productivity performance across a variety of products or product portfolio.
• General skills will include setting and executing strategic direction, planning & organizing, negotiating, building business relationships and communicating widely.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Knowledge of supplier fulfilment capabilities to meet customer and internal requirements.
• Ability to build system capability and capacity to ensure service is provided effectively, timely and efficiently.
• Long and short-term planning. Organizing, leading changes, influencing and communicating widely.
• Quality systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001), Food Safety (FSSC 22000, FDA, FSMA) experience and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) application.
• Ability to interact with government officials.
• Demonstrate ability to sustain high people engagement.

• This position requires making key business decisions that could have a major impact on the organizational performance, both in the short and the long term.
• Understand implications of key decisions on internal and external stakeholders.
• Problems faced vary in difficulty and complexity and may require a new perspective on existing solutions.
• Plan and execute new and un-proven strategies within a limited resources environment.
• Apply technical knowledge to different plant situations or problems.
• Periodic appraisal of data/information/reports to identify adverse trends of gaps and trigger corrective actions.
• Jointly manage with HR hiring, termination, suspension, performance reviews processes.

• This position is expected to directly or indirectly supervise a team of approximately 10 people who execute the plant's Technical day-to-day activities. This might include temporary or outsourced personnel as well.
• Completing performance appraisals/development plans, rewarding and disciplining team members is also part of this job's duties.

• Excellent analytical, problem solving, decision making and strategic thinking skills, with ability to navigate and prioritize multiple and/or conflicting demands.
• Facilitate problem solving sessions when required following a systematic approach. Ensure the organization is properly trained in problem solving.
• Translate overall business strategies into operational objectives.
• Deal with conflicting interests (time, limited resources, productivity requirements, shelf-life, lead times, etc.)
• Sustain and improve key metrics performance levels.
• Check and correct current or potential problems not immediately evident in existing systems and processes/making adjustments with a preventive mindset.
• Balance demand with production plan, manufacturing resources and work centers limited throughput.
• Interpret how internal or external standards or requirements apply to the operation and should be portrayed and reflected in internal programs, procedures and records.
• Recommended enhancements in systems and processes to solve problems or improve effectiveness.
• Performance gap resolution including analysis and quick implementation of specific actions that could generate an impact in the mid-long term.
• Propose courses of action for raw materials and finished product inventory levels issues and gaps.

• Has accountability for ongoing activities, may lead processes or project steps within a broader project.
• Explains policies, practices, and procedures of the job area to others within the organization.
• Communicates with contacts typically within the plant on matters that involve explaining or interpreting information to reach agreement.
• May work to justify and gain cooperation of other parties on practices, policies and procedures.
• Act as a change agent, assessing and challenging status quo when required with continuous improvement mindset.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including influencing, listening, teamwork and building value-based relationships.
• This position interactions include but are not limited to:
  • Internal interactions: FM's SVP, plant's leadership team (Production, Logistics, Technical, Engineering & Maintenance, Finance, IT on a daily basis). Operation's supervisors and plant associates.
  • External interactions: Corporate's business partners, FM Wexford and FM Atlanta business partners, IQD Laboratory, Strategic Ingredient Supply, Flavor System & Ingredient.

• Normal manufacturing plant/office working conditions apply.
• This position is subject to the hazards and risks of a food manufacturing plant and its working environment.
• May need to provide support in the off hours by taking phone calls and reporting to the facility on an as needed basis.