Mill is all about answering a simple question: how can we prevent waste? Less waste can save time, money, energy, maybe even our planet. And there’s no better place to start than food. Food waste is one of the most solvable climate problems facing us today. Plus, our trash really stinks. It’s gross, heavy, and our least favorite chore. At Mill we are striving to build a better environment for all, as we take on climate and kitchen change.
Location:
Mukilteo, WA - Fully on-site, occasional vendor visits.
Full-time, permanent
About the Role:
Mill works to ensure food scraps stay out of landfills by providing options for beneficial reuse. One pathway is turning the output from Mill kitchen bins (“Food Grounds”) into a commercial feed ingredient for poultry. We are currently seeking a plant manager to oversee the production, maintenance, and quality assurance functions of Mill’s flagship poultry feed ingredient manufacturing plant. We're looking for someone who leads by serving others, has a positive can-do attitude, and gets things done without delay. Patience is a key strength, along with giving people the benefit of the doubt and communicating directly. This person values feedback, creating a friendly and open workplace.This professional multitasker will coordinate the plant’s manufacturing processes to ensure compliance with company objectives, quality systems, and customer expectations. The ideal candidate will be exceptionally detail-oriented and able to lead a team, serving as a liaison between operators and management. This person must be dedicated to achieving operational excellence and have a genuine interest in helping the company succeed. This is a hands-on role and includes managing operators, safety and compliance programs, reporting, vendor management, and managing facility maintenance activities. Expectations are that this role spends a significant portion of the time on the plant floor.
Objectives:
- Provide leadership to ensure effective utilization of plant personnel and equipment
- Investigate and implement creative improvements to manufacturing processes to reduce costs and improve product quality
- Serve as a representative for the facility locally, within the company, and virtually for external parties
Responsibilities:
- Ensure the facility is a safe workspace, and promptly address hazards that arise
- Manage WISHA / OSHA Personnel Safety Plan, carry out required planned and responsive tasks, and trigger corrective actions as needed
- Manage Food Safety Plan, carry out required planned and responsive activities, and trigger corrective actions as needed
- Plan and coordinate manufacturing operations for receiving, inspection, processing, and quality assurance activities, with storage space and resource availability in mind
- Track and report volumes of all inbound feedstock and outbound product, to maintain WA Commercial Feed License
- Track performance metrics in support of organizational goals and objectives
- Manage sampling and sample testing program for guaranteed analysis and safety programs
- Carry out preventive and scheduled equipment maintenance activities
- Promptly address equipment, facility, or personnel problems that arise
- Maintain inventory of consumables and supplies
- Keep operational expenses within budget, and investigate cost-reduction measures
- Create protocols to organize and streamline operations
- Communicate milestones and the status of operations to relevant stakeholders
- Project manage contracted facility repairs and improvements, following spend approval, requisition, and payment procedures
- Ensure operations and improvement projects are properly permitted and in compliance
- Stay up to date with the latest production management best practices and concepts
- Provide tours of the facility
- Carry out administrative tasks
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in engineering, operations management, business, or equivalent work experience
- 5 or more years of experience in plant operations, business operations, or engineering in a professional setting
- Proven skills in leadership and supervision
- Knowledge of quality, reliability, supplier mgt, statistical analysis, and reporting
- Exceptional program management, communication, and teamwork skills
- Excellent at work task prioritization
- Ability to operate in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with minimal supervision
- Computer literacy; specifically the use of Google Drive and Microsoft Office, with the willingness to learn Slack, Coda, and other software as needed
The estimated base salary range for this position is $96k to $155k, which does not include the value of benefits or a potential equity grant. A wide range of factors are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets, market conditions, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and business and organizational needs. At Mill, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role.
