Job description

Job Purpose   

This position is part of senior leadership team entrusted with spearheading the company forward. It works in close co-ordination with the company’s CEO and other key personnel, to manage and run the operations of the farm, plant, bottle production, maintenance, stores, and inventory departments.

The main purpose of the position is to implement tactical strategy and strategic operational goals to exceed customer expectation on product quality, cost, and delivery, maximizing efficiency, optimizing production levels, and driving operational excellence. Working closely with internal and external key stakeholders, regarding technical support for activities, striving for best-in-class products and business practices to deliver to the customer’s expectations, managing teams and projects across the business.

Provide clear leadership and vision, inspire, and motivate staff to achieve excellence and mentor them as they develop new skills. Drive Key Performance Indicators across all areas of the Manufacturing function to ensure that all projects are delivered on cost and on time to the highest quality standards. Ensure Health, Safety and Environmental issues are prioritized and facilitated, direct and drive implementation of Lean Business strategy and drive Continuous Improvement across all areas.

Main Tasks & Accountabilities

Strategy and Development

• Ensure complete responsibility for Manufacturing activities across the business.
• Ensure to create and implement best practice manufacturing vision, strategy, policies, processes, and procedures to aid and improve business performance.
• Ensure that manufacturing strategies and processes are in place to meet business objectives and operational needs in terms of price, quality and delivery targets and which enables the company to function and compete effectively in the market.
• Evaluate the challenges faced by the business and take action to mitigate risks and develop opportunities.
• Contribute to overall business strategy and annual budget process.
• Take ownership of the manufacturing policy, guidelines and any associated documents.
• Initiate and develop creative and innovative manufacturing processes.

Farm Management

• Ensure the department follows and implement all policies and procedures for good dairy farming practice so that safe and good quality milk can be produced at least cost.
• Ensure good biosecurity, dairy farming practice that include management practices that are sustainable, social, economic, and environmentally friendly. 
• Ensure that the department implements all the steps for the maintenance of good farming practice.

Central Processing Plant -Management

• Ensure that all the systems and processes for the Processing Plant are implemented.
• Ensure that all the documents and procedures are created for Certificate of Analysis covering the production, service, packaging, storage and administration areas.
• Ensure the upkeep of the entire plant facility and infrastructure.

Bottle Production Management

• Ensure overall material planning, molding, filling, sealing, labeling, and bagging process is followed and implemented.
• Plan and ensure the entire process including segregating the products into PET, HDPE, IML, POUCH and the quantities of each type of packaging is worked on.
• Ensure that the material requirement for blow molding or injection molding the containers for packaging the targeted produce is estimated correctly.
• Manage all areas of packaging including blow molding / injection molding, filling, capping and sealing, labeling and bagging to ensure a seamless process.

Maintenance

• Support & ensure the smooth running of the production process.
• Manage and direct engineering workforce.
• Plan, organize, ensure and review maintenance schedules, shift working and related activities within the maintenance department. 
• Design, plan and implement to ensure availability of emergency response (on and off-hour) including equipment repair, damage control, and assignment of support personnel as needed.
• Ensure preventive & periodical Maintenance schedule is being implemented smoothly.
• Design, implement and maintain preventive as well as predictive maintenance programs with the help of the maintenance team.
• Establish with the department agreed planned services.
• Advise to the department on relevant maintenance replacements and upgrades required on a periodic basis.
• Ensure curative & service Maintenance.
• Investigate and resolve technical problems within stipulated timelines with the help of a competent team.

Engineering Quality Control and Assurance

• Ensure plant quality performance standards are maintained.
• Monitor and control maintenance standards with the department.

Budgeting and Cost Control

• Oversees Capital Expenditure items including equipment purchases, contracted labor and in-house construction and fabrication projects.
• Control and minimize incidence of wastage within the department.
• Prepare and administer department budget within established guidelines for maintenance and repair of plant and equipment.

Stores and Inventory

• Ensure planning and purchase of raw materials, equipment and related items.
• Ensure the design specifications and budget for raw materials. Collaborate with other managers to determine supply needs.
• Ensure and supervise receiving and warehousing procedures.
• Oversee and ensure storage, control and distribution of supplies.
• Responsible for finished goods inventory procedures.
• Ensure finished products meet all required acceptance criteria and are launched on schedule.
• Ensure the delivery of finished products to warehouse for prompt delivery to customers.
• Coordinate with Excise, Customs and other regulatory departments for smooth warehousing operations.
• Ensure managing and implementing policies and procedures regarding inventory.
• Ensure the audit of incoming and outgoing shipments to assure compliance, quality and accuracy.
• Conduct physical inventory counts and cycle counts.

Operations Management

• Lead, develop and implement variable cost productivity programs across all areas of responsibility.
• Implement a customer focused operational culture delivering world class customer service levels.
• Coordinate team activities to optimize cost performance of the plant through capital investment programs, optimizing operating working capital usage and minimizing waste through the development of a continuous improvement culture encompassing lean principles and clear strategic development.
• Develop and manage master production schedule and operations budgets for products to directly support and ensure that the product is delivered to agreed cost, quality and timelines.
• Plan and execute maintenance activity to ensure plant is kept safe and compliant.
• Ensure improvements in reliability for key aspects of machinery by completing reliability studies and identifying best planned maintenance strategy.
• Ensure a process for safe selection of external contractors. Ensure all external maintenance contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure best value.
• Provide design for manufacturing input at early stages in the new product development process, coordinating with and supporting the new product development team to implement new and revised designs and developing effective processes to ensure manufacturability of product while maintaining quality, safety and environmental standards and achieving cost targets.
• Manage the accurate and on-time introduction of new products.
• Support project management to cross functional activity required for project execution.
• Ensure that Environmental, Health and Safety, manufacturing and quality standards and procedures are adhered to.

Financial and Budget Management

• Input and hold responsibility for manufacturing budgets.
• Prepare the annual Manufacturing budget and forecasts and all Capital Expenditure proposals as well as ensuring compliance with legal standards.
• Manage the budget from identification to completion of projects.

Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure optimal performance.
• Proactively work with product line management, engineering, service and other departments to incorporate best practices into the manufacturing environment.
• Report on Manufacturing activities on a regular basis to the Senior Management team, ensuring accurate and timely reporting of the relevant Key Performance Indicators.
• Work collaboratively, negotiate and engage with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery and compliance with the manufacturing strategy.
• Communicate with stakeholders the impact of technology change and potential effects on supply. Recommend solutions without compromising quality or service while optimizing cost.
• Contribute to new business initiatives and projects and review and communicate the impact on manufacturing activities.

Education Level –    Minimum Requirement

Bachelors / Master's Degree or MBA would be an added advantage.

Professional   Qualifications

• Preferably a Fellow or Chartered Member of an industry related Professional Body.
• Six Sigma Certification preferred.
• Supply Chain Certification preferred.

Work Experience 

Overall experience of 15+ years’ experience in Manufacturing industry within fresh Food and Dairy dynamic business environment.

Job Specific Skills

• Proven track record on interacting with Senior Management in a highly sensitive and collaborative to agree the Group’s strategic direction.
• Ability to add value, reduce costs and make business improvements.
• Proven project management and build quality experience.
• Demonstrable experience of leading a manufacturing function with a proven track record in strategic manufacturing leadership delivering effective manufacturing strategies, policies, processes and systems.
• Experience of operating and influencing at a strategic level.
• Knowledge and technical understanding of automotive processes, components and manufacturing techniques.

Generic Skills

• Must be alert, strive for accuracy, and have ability to exercise independent thinking and judgment, be a self- motivator, and attention to detail.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Position Location 

Site Based - Al Sunainah