Director of Engineering

Job purpose:
The Director of Engineering is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the maintenance, reliability, and engineering functions of fairlife’s Webster, NY, greenfield plant. The purpose of the role is to ensure the newly built facility can achieve and sustain OEE’s at the level of its design potential with a key focus on safety, quality, and reliability. In addition, this role will provide inspiration, direction, coaching and feedback to the maintenance and reliability teams which are responsible for meeting the business plan and strategic objectives whilst strengthening the fairlife culture of Believe in Better and fostering a culture of measurement driven continuous improvement. The Director of Engineering will work closely with the Project Engineering team to ensure the Webster plant is built, commissioned, and ramped up sustainably and efficiently. They will be responsible for an effective handoff of ownership from the project team and OEM’s to the plant team ensuring the necessary level of training, support, systems, and specifications are in place to deliver sustained results. They will drive and implement management routines, PM programs, improvement projects, and technical solutions. The engineering director will also support the hiring and onboarding of maintenance leadership, reliability engineers, subject matter experts to build a strong and capable technical team at the Webster Plant


responsibilities:

• Build robust maintenance and engineering programs including equipment overhaul strategies, spare parts management, technical support, reliability systems, and utility management.
• Support and guide the implementation of CMMS in the Webster facility, working closely with internal and external partners toward a complete solution
• Implement and drive strategic projects, and problem solving routines to increase plant reliability, and reduce unplanned downtime
• Develop technical subject matter experts, and engineering techs responsible for the reliability and efficiency of critical areas within the plant including, UHT’s, Aseptic Filling, Utilities, Packaging
• Key stakeholder in the site capital process by developing, supporting, and implementing key capital projects
• Oversee and drive capital projects <$ 5million that Capital Engineering projects team are not resourced for.
• Provide dairy science, mechanical, process, and technical problem-solving support to operations and quality
• Communicate and engage with the workforce at every level to build trust and continuity throughout the teams, consistently demonstrating the fairlife culture of Believe in Better
• Foster environment of collaboration and ownership across the project team, resources at existing fairlife sites, and new leadership to build a World Class Factory
• Meet short term goals while balancing long term objectives
• Be an ambassador for the Webster plant, representing the values, culture, and ethos of fairlife with internal and external stakeholders
• Lead the team in executing against competing priorities in a fast-paced environment balancing tactical and strategic initiatives in coordination with the overall supply chain objectives
• Support and drive the safety programs specific to the Life Saving Rules including but not limited to, Lockout Tagout, Hot work permit programs, contractor safety, working at heights, confined space safety ect.

 
skills/qualifications required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related discipline required
• A minimum of 10 years of Engineering or Plant Management experience that is directly related to the duties and responsibilities outlined; remote location leadership preferred
• Dairy, bottling, or brewing experience required; pharmaceutical or food experience considered. Aseptic processing experience preferred
• Proven ability to identify and mitigate food safety risks with a temperature sensitive pathogen risky raw material such as milk
• Working knowledge of utility systems, processing technology, and controls in manufacturing environments
• A proven track record of implementing TPM and LEAN principles creating short- and long-term value
• Strong technical skills in deploying and implementing new technologies in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to lead a team to achieve goals with trust and integrity
• Skilled in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
• Ability to make administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive, confidential issues
• Ability to analyze and assess training and development needs and manage performance
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Working knowledge of computerized information systems, MES, MRP, CMMS, and SCADA systems
• Knowledge and understanding of federal and state environmental laws, regulations, procedures, and standards
• Knowledge of budgeting cost estimating and fiscal management principles and procedures
• Ability to handle ambiguity and work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

position location: Webster, NY
reports to: Plant Director
travel requirements: 50% travel in 2024, 10% in 2025 and beyond
Salary range: $170,000 - $190,000     

*Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.