Freeze Dry Packaging Lead- 2nd Shift

Company Description: Instinct® is a rapidly growing, family-owned marketer and manufacturer of science based 100% natural pet food for dogs and cats. Instinct® is the Raw Brand, with a mission to get more raw nutrition into every bowl of dogs and cats, for proven healthier and happier long lives. Our company mission is toEmpower people to transform the lives of pets. We are committed to hiring and developing a team of passionate, performance-oriented professionals who live by our 4 values of championing raw, empowered to make a difference, collaborating as one team, and striving for excellence through continuous learning and improvement. Our home office is located in St. Louis, Missouri with our Center of Excellence Raw Food kitchens in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Position Summary: This position reports directly to the Freeze Dry Manager and is responsible for assisting with the management of day to day activities of Freeze Dry Packaging operations. The Freeze Dry Packaging (FD Pack) Lead will assist in managing three production lines within cost goals and produce adequate quantities to fulfill our customer’s demands with a motivated and engaged team. The FD Pack Lead is also responsible for making sure standard yields and standard lbs. per hour are met on a daily basis. In addition, the FD Pack Lead will assist the FD Manager to ensure employees are properly trained to perform their duties in an efficient and safe manner.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Daily oversight and hands-on guidance of FD Packaging Rooms and Topical Mixing operations.
• Lead operations to ensure standards, proper specifications, superior quality, and safety are maintained.
• Responsible for communicating with manager and other shifts to maintain continuity in operations and gain an understanding of daily changes and issues that impact operations.
• Provide feedback to manager on the effectiveness of current and future staffing needs.
• Responsible for making sure all daily paperwork is turned in when required, free of errors.
• Responsible for monitoring and reporting on variances in production operations.
• Responsible for mentoring and assisting in the development of employees.
• Expected to fill in and lead the team in the absence of the Manager.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. on an occasional basis, if needed to cover a position for a short time.
• Frequent squatting, kneeling, stooping, and bending, if needed to cover a position for a short time.
• Occasional pushing and pulling of materials, if needed to cover a position for a short time.
• Ability to work from elevated locations, such as a ladder or work platform.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work in a rapidly changing environment where decisions often have to be made with imperfect information.
• Develop relationships through the team.
• Ability to build effective teams.
• Creative problem-solver.
• Project management.
• Strong safety focus.
• Follow-up and communication (expressing ideas effectively verbally and in writing).
• Strong organizational skills (ability to manage multiple projects).
• Practical learning (assimilating and applying new information).
• Ability to deal with ambiguity.
• Understand major functions within the plant and maintain the ability to work directly with all levels and functions.

Skills and Technical Expertise:

• Highly developed project management skills.
• Basic understanding of accounting and financial statements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Microsoft Project, spreadsheets, Outlook.
• Technical knowledge of process, equipment, controls and products.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of team building.
• Driving Continuous Improvement.
• Knowledgeable in Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Food and Drug laws, OSHA requirements.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in a manufacturing environment.
• 1-2 years in a production leadership position.
• Experience working in quality.
• Experience working in safety.

Compensation and Benefits: Competitive compensation package includes health & dental insurance, life & AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, Paid Time Off, short and long term disability, Purpose Days off for company partner volunteer opportunities, and 401(k) with company match.

Our Instinct is to CHAMPION Diversity

At Instinct, we are as passionate about our people as we are about the pets we call family. We are committed to inclusion, empowerment, and respect. We believe that just like our pets, what sets us apart unleashes our greatest strengths. We thrive on the ability to not only empower people to transform the lives of pets through raw nutrition, but also to empower each other to inspire a culture that celebrates our differences. Our unique approach to pet food is what makes us who we are as a company, and our individual identities are what makes us a successful, innovative, authentic team.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• Night shift

Work Location: Multiple Locations