MFG Plant Senior Engineering Leader

Job Title: Senior Engineering Leader.

Company Overview

Tara Foods, a proud member of the nation-wide Kroger Manufacturing, is looking for a Senior Engineering Leader to be part of our team. At Tara Foods, we uniquely offer the resources and benefits of a Fortune 500 company while maintaining a hometown atmosphere centered around teamwork, support, and development. Tara Foods is in the city of Albany, Georgia, which is strategically located an hour from the Florida border, 2 1/2 hours south from Atlanta and about 3 hours from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. We have been in business under the Kroger name since 1977 and are currently producing Peanut Butter, Juices, Sauces and Liquid Water Enhancers for Kroger grocery stores nationwide.

Why Live in Albany?

You can watch Ray Charles play piano, enjoy divine climate conditions or get an eyeful of the universe and come face to face with creatures of the deep. You can do all of that and more in Albany, located on the Flint River in southwest Georgia. With a lively lineup of attractions - Chehaw Park; Thronateeska Heritage Center with Wetherbee Planetarium, Science Discovery Center and Museum of History; the Flint RiverQuarium and Imagination Theater - Albany transports visitors to good times. You can visit the Art Museum of Albany, Theatre Albany, beautiful parks and trails, and Radium Springs Gardens, one of Georgia's seven natural wonders. Albany has more than two dozen hotels, lots of eateries, a family- and pet-friendly brewery, and a mild year-round climate. It is an affordable home base for day trips to regional attractions, such as the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains and Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta.

Why Work at the Tara Foods?

To support and reward our hardworking and friendly associates, we offer much more than just a paycheck. We strive to feed your future by offering the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. Our associates receive a full plate of benefits that promote their physical, emotional, and financial well-being, including access to competitive health care and retirement benefits, vacation, mental health resources, associate discounts, and opportunities to learn, grow and advance.

What We Offer

• Competitive wages depending on experience.
• Annual Bonus potential.
• Vacation.
• 10 Paid Holidays (4 of your own choosing).
• Full benefits package (Low Cost), including medical, dental, vision, 401k and life insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts at all Kroger stores nationwide.
• Many other perks.
  
  

Position Summary

Direct, schedule and control all plant engineering/maintenance functions to obtain optimum efficiencies from the equipment, utilities and overall facilities. Perform all jobs safely, efficiently and accurately to maintain and improve the performance of the entire plant in the areas of Safety, Quality, Reliability (SQR) and our Customer 1st strategy. Provide leadership that embodies our 7 Kroger Manufacturing High Performance Work System principles. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.

Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide engineering guidance and leadership at the plant level.
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provide feedback to direct reports.
• Lead the development and implementation of the plant/business unit 3 year capital plan including preparing capital appropriation requests, developing competitive equipment and service bids, releasing purchase order contracts, exercising effective project management, control project funds, facilitate training and achieve the project deliverables.
• Recommend and or assist in equipment/processing system modifications and replacement.
• Remain up-to-date on technology related to plant operations.
• Develop, implement and control approved budgets.
• Create and maintain the appropriate engineering records including equipment records and manuals, drawings and diagrams, inspection reports and legal records.
• Drive the integrated maintenance process which includes the establishment and administration of an effective predictive/preventative maintenance program, work order procedures and optimized parts inventory.
• Oversee the identification, selection, skills assessment, training, performance evaluation and development process for maintenance and engineering associates.
• Lead energy management and efficiency initiatives, inclusive of plant, division and company goals.
• Work closely with outside agencies such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure plant compliance with current regulations.
• Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements.
• Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF 2000 Systems.
• Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
  
  

Qualifications

Desired Previous Job Experience/Education:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical or chemical engineering.
• 6+ years of experience in the food industry dealing with capital project development and management, preventative maintenance administration, maintenance workforce management, budget responsibility and federal regulations/requirements (pay level-10).
  
  

Minimum Position Qualifications/Education

• Bachelors degree in engineering or related field with relevant experience.
• 5+ years of technical experience in the food industry.
• Knowledge of Food Safety Principles, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), EPA and OSHA requirements.
• Strong attention to detail, with high degree of accuracy and precision.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking ability.
• Proven leadership skills.
• Ability to foster positive working relationships with key stakeholders.