Job Category:

Manufacturing/Operations

Job Family:

Operations Leadership

Job Description:

The Vice President of Engineering –Manufacturing Operations is responsible for leading engineering efforts focused on driving continuous improvement, operational excellence, and innovation across all aspects of manufacturing, processing, packaging, and automation. In this critical role, the incumbent will oversee both capital and non-capital projects, with a strong emphasis on process engineering, advanced manufacturing systems, controls, and automation. The position will also be key in optimizing manufacturing performance, enhancing productivity, and reducing operational costs through innovative engineering practices, while ensuring alignment with the company's overall business goals. This individual will lead the development teams and collaborate with other areas of the business, including Sales, Marketing, and Finance departments.

This position is located at our Home Office in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Relocation benefits are offered, in addition to a $10,000 relocation bonus, if relocating more than 50 miles for the position.

About our Green Bay, WI Home Office:

You'll find lots to love in our beautiful home office in downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin. Our jeans-friendly environment has indoor and outdoor collaboration spaces, state-of-the-art R&D and sensory labs, culinary kitchens, a pilot plant, innovation center and more.

What you'll do:

Team Leadership & Organizational Development
• Champion a disciplined culture of continuous improvement across all manufacturing sites. Lead initiatives such as Lean, Six Sigma, APQP, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) to improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a global team of engineering professionals, including senior level engineering managers, project managers, engineers, maintenance, and support teams. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, professional development, and continuous improvement. Ensure strong pipeline development and succession planning processes.
• Drive operational excellence by leading the design, optimization, and implementation of best practices in manufacturing engineering, operation processes, process discipline, process execution, automation, and continuous improvement processes across all facilities.
• Collaborate closely with all of Operations & Engineering, R&D, Supply Chain, IT, and other departments to ensure seamless project execution and alignment with the company's goals.
Operational Excellence, Packaging & Manufacturing Engineering
• Lead efforts to improve existing manufacturing and processing systems, implementing engineering solutions to enhance scalability, reduce variability, and increase product consistency.
• Oversee the design and optimization of new and existing manufacturing processes for existing and future products.
• Oversee packaging engineering efforts, implementing innovative and cost-effective packaging solutions aligned with goals.
• Ensure packaging processes are efficient, scalable, and aligned with the company's brand and customer needs.
• Oversee the integration of automation and control systems across production facilities, enhancing the speed, precision, and efficiency of operations. Work very closely with our automation, systems and controls group to implement advanced control systems, robotics, and data-driven solutions to increase production capabilities and reduce manual intervention.
• Leverage data analytics to track and optimize key performance indicators (KPIs) such as production efficiency, downtime, energy usage, and cost per unit. Utilize real-time data to identify areas for improvement and optimize operations. Define and track key engineering performance indicators including cost savings and project delivery.
Capital & Non-Capital Project Execution
• Oversee both capital and non-capital engineering projects, ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery.
• Ensure all projects, whether new installations, equipment upgrades, or process enhancements, meet operational goals and are executed with operational excellence in mind.
• Manage a portfolio of engineering projects, including new technology integration, optimization, plant upgrades, capacity expansions, and cost-saving initiatives. Prioritize projects based on return on investment, strategic alignment, and operational impact.
• Drive sustainability initiatives within engineering projects, focusing on reducing energy consumption, waste, and the environmental impact of production processes. Ensure compliance with all regulatory standards, quality requirements, and health & safety protocols.
• Proactively manage engineering-related risks, including operational disruptions, cost overruns, and technical challenges, ensuring that mitigation strategies are in place to minimize project delays or budget issues.
Innovation & Technology:
• Drive technological innovation within manufacturing processes, including automation, digitalization, and the integration of Industry 4.0 practices to enhance productivity and cost-effectiveness.
Together with the leadership team, ensures compliance with Food Safety and Food Quality Plans, in addition to customer requirements. Interprets and communicates customer requirements to plant production and/or support groups. Establishes and Audits PCPs, CCPs and Standard Operating Procedures to define and monitor processes, to ensure customer requirements are met. Reviews incidents during which the procedures are not met, and determines appropriate corrective action for partners failing to follow standard procedures.

What you will need to succeed:
• Bachelor's degree in engineering required. (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Chemical, or related fields). A master's degree in engineering or MBA is a preferred.
• 15+ years experience in leadership of mid to large size food manufacturing operations
• 7-10 years in senior leadership role with oversight to both capital and non-capital project management that involved operational, manufacturing systems or automation technology.
• Proven track record in implementing Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, or similar continuous improvement methodologies to drive operational success, process discipline, and cost reduction with a results driven mindset.
• Strong background in automation, project management, and data-driven decision making processes.
• Technical expertise in manufacturing & process engineering, automation, packaging systems, operational excellence, and manufacturing technologies.
• Strong project and program management skills with the ability to oversee both capital and non-capital engineering projects, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Expertise in identifying and implementing manufacturing best practices, process optimizations, and cost-saving initiatives.
• Proven leadership skills, with experience managing and developing diverse, cross-functional teams in a global environment.
• Proficiency in project management software and data analysis tools (e.g., MS Project, PLCs, SCADA systems).
• Experience in scaling operations and optimizing production systems to meet short-term and long-term business goals.
• Strong understanding of sustainability principles and environmental regulations as they relate to food manufacturing and packaging.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time both within and outside the U.S.

Eligible partners will receive:

Get not one, but TWO retirement benefits. When you join our employee-owned company, you'll be part of our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) from day one. That means in addition to an 8% 401(k) match into the ESOP, Schreiber will contribute an extra amount – about 10% of your earnings – toward your retirement every year. That's a company contribution of around 18% in retirement savings annually!
Earn bonus pay. You'll have an opportunity to earn incentive pay twice a year when we meet our company goals.
Earn $ for focusing on your health. Get up to $1,200 for your health savings account each year, plus get reimbursed for fitness membership, equipment or classes.
Pursue development that's relevant to your role, career goals and the company. Plus, we offer tuition reimbursement if you want to further your education to grow in your role at Schreiber.
Get access to medical, prescription drug, dental and vision benefits starting day one. This includes an onsite nurse and mental health counselor.
Experience caring like you've never experienced it before. We have a program that's completely organized by and for other partners who need extra help. It's called Partners Helping Partners. We have hundreds of examples of partners organizing fundraisers to help out others going through a hard time.

Sound like a company you'd like to be a part of? Click Apply.

Need extra assistance with the application process? Contact recruiting@schreiberfoods.com or call 920-437-7601.

For positions that require any amount of travel: Valid driver's license, auto insurance (at least state minimum- more might be required), acceptable driving record per Schreiber Foods discretion, and vehicle that will ensure applicant can meet the travel necessities of the position are required.

Schreiber requires that an employee have authorization to work in the country in which the role is based. In the event, an applicant does not have current work authorization, Schreiber will determine, in its sole discretion, whether to sponsor an individual for work authorization. However, based on immigration requirements, not all roles are suitable for sponsorship.

An Equal Opportunity Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

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