Branch Director Of Operations

The Director of Operations will oversee and direct the management of food distribution, assuring efficiencies in all aspects of the operation. This individual will have daily oversight and accountability of the operational plan and management of the Philadelphia, PA location. Additionally, this person is expected to, through cross-functional collaboration, enhance the efficiency of this operation, applying industry best practices and process improvement methodologies.

The Director of Operations will operate within a structured matrix environment requiring collaboration and partnership with several centralized support functional areas, namely:

• Personal and Food Safety

• Finance and Accounting

• Human Resources

• Supply Chain/Procurement

• Sales

• Technology

• Logistics

• Engineering, Facilities and Security

A successful candidate will bring respect for the company and culture and a track-record for exceeding expectations. They will create buy-in and trust through their low-ego, servant leadership approach and interest in developing and the organization and its people.

This role reports to the Senior Vice President of Operations.

Major Responsibilities

Operational Excellence

• Execute strategic operations plans and activities to meet customer demand, ensure highest quality standards are met and maintained, and manage operating costs to ensure profitability.
• Responsible for all aspects of warehouse and distribution activities including, but not limited to:
• • Work Force management – Engineered work standards, planning and scheduling
  • Personal and Food Safety – Ensuring compliance to OSHA & GMP/SQF standards. Reduction in OSHA Recordable and Lost Time Injuries
  • Receiving of goods – Planning, inspection, receipt and reverse receiving
  • Quality Control – Auditing/inspection, grading and disposition of inventory.
  • Inventory Control – Slotting, cycle counting, variance analysis and troubleshooting
  • Throughput Efficiency and Capacity Planning
  • Fleet Management
  • Customer (Internal and External) issue resolution
  • Facility, Equipment and Utilities management
  • Budget creation and management
  • Local, State and Federal regulatory compliance
• Maintain tools and systems to streamline data processing, record keeping, metrics, communication documents and reports.
• Collaborate to enhance metrics, KPIs, scorecards and training to ensure the highest levels of service and customer experience.
• Review performance of all functions, identify gaps and take corrective actions to ensure delivery of operational goals.
• Drive and build best practices (SOPs) and ensure processes are effectively established, monitored and optimized.
• Prepare/update written manual(s) articulating operating policies and procedures consistent with OSHA standards, train staff on these policies and procedures, and enforce ensure they are implemented/practiced. Ensure accountability for safety and compliance measures.
• Conduct regular meetings with branch leadership and with all warehouse and transportation staff, encouraging the sharing of concerns with suggestions for improvements. Develop plans to address issues and/or engage in creating opportunities for improvement.
• Lead and/or partner with others on company initiatives.

Talent Management

• Drive business initiatives through influence and empowering of employees to create a culture of engagement, creativity, and innovation.
• Lead the operations function and ensure the right positions and people are in place to ensure the current and future needs of the organization are satisfied.
• Develop a high performing organization through coaching, creation of development plans, establishing goals and objectives and providing stretch opportunities to high performing talent.
• Support Operations Objectives, Goals, Strategies, and Initiatives (OGSI) metrics and targets that will service as the basis of employee’s Management by Objective (MBO) bonus plan. Manage all aspects of performance of direct reports to encourage best in class execution and professional growth.
• Teach and train teams toward continuous improvement.
• Ability to partner with HR to develop a workforce plan, recruiting strategy, and compensation plan for Baldor’s warehouse-based operations.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

Experience Profile:

• Proven Operations leader with 10+ years’ experience in warehouse and distribution management, including at least 5 years as a manager, preferably in a food industry environment.
• Proven success in driving innovation and forward-thinking business processes, technology and systems.
• Successful experience leading in a complex, matrixed, and regulated environment.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems.
• Deep understanding of Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
• Strong Analytical skills and Financial Acumen.
• Understanding of Lean Manufacturing practices.
• B.A. or B.S. Degree preferred.

Key Competencies Desired for Success:

Agent of Change: This leader is not afraid to challenge the status quo and inspire the organization to new levels of performance. A successful individual in this position should be dynamic and continuously introduce innovation into existing operations to enhance efficiency and customer service levels.

Respected and Valued Business Partner: Strong business acumen with a broad

understanding of fundamental business principles and possessing good judgement and decision making, while enjoying complex problem solving utilizing critical thinking and coordination.

Data Driven Mindset: Possesses strong analytical skills with an ability to develop clear, explanatory, and relevant metrics. This leader must take a data driven approach to their tasks and instill this mindset into their direct reports. Moreover, a successful candidate will understand how to make their metrics understandable to others outside of their functional area.

Authentic Capability Builder: The successful candidate will be known as an authentic leader who is committed to people and organizational capability building. This individual should possess a high degree of emotional intelligence, strong listening skills and exceptional verbal and written communication abilities. This person is an inspiring leader who communicates passion, energy and excitement with high emotional intelligence and equally sound intellectual intelligence.

Commitment to Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proactive communicator with a keen sense of how to connect with people and build trust though all levels of the organization. This individual has high credibility, integrity, adaptability and is able to quickly establish rapport and build productive relationships in any given situation. This individual must understand the complementary roles and priorities of each function to create collaboration and teamwork across organizational boundaries. This person will provide strong leadership to ensure the focus is on key priorities.

Character and Personal Attributes:

• Entrepreneurial – Likes to build; not adverse to risk

• Productive Problem-Solver – Ability to “get things done”

• Tenacious – Views challenge as opportunity

• Data Driven – Speaks with facts, data and the truth

• Low-Ego – No task is too small; operates effectively in a family-owned organization

• IQ/EQ – Balances intellect with interpersonal skills; articulate and engaging

• Listener – Is curious, listens and asks questions