Director, Process Development and Engineering

As the Director of Process Development and Engineering at The Farmer’s Dog, you will lead innovation initiatives and drive technological advancement within the organization. This includes developing new processing methods, optimizing production efficiency, and enhancing quality and food safety. You'll work closely with teams in R&D, Quality, and Engineering to ensure that new processes are scalable and commercially viable. Your role will also involve analyzing complex challenges using statistical modeling and AI-driven methods to improve processes.

The ideal candidate for the Director of Process Development and Engineering position at The Farmer’s Dog will possess over 10 years of experience in process engineering, particularly in R&D-driven process design and optimization within the food industry. You should have a deep understanding of continuous improvement methodologies like TPM, Lean, and Six Sigma, along with expertise in advanced process controls and data-driven decision-making.

The Farmer’s Dog fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in the role of Director, Process Development and Engineering. You will collaborate across various teams to de-risk new technologies, maximize throughput, and enhance automation. By involving customer insights and leveraging advanced methodologies, you'll ensure that the company's processes are not only efficient but also aligned with customer needs and industry trends.

As the Director of Process Development and Engineering at The Farmer’s Dog, your impact will be significant in aligning our operational strategies with our mission to improve pet health. You will be instrumental in designing and validating new processes, which will directly influence the quality of the fresh food we deliver to dogs. Your innovations will help ensure we can adapt to the evolving market, fostering a sustainable and customer-centric approach in the pet food industry.

As the Director of Process Development and Engineering at The Farmer’s Dog, you can expect a competitive compensation package including base salary and equity options, comprehensive health benefits, flexible PTO, and a unique dog-friendly work environment. We value our team and are committed to inclusivity and professional growth, ensuring you have resources to thrive in both your career and personal life.

To effectively answer this question, discuss specific methodologies you’ve employed, such as Lean and Six Sigma, to identify inefficiencies and enhance production processes. Highlight real examples where you’ve implemented these strategies to demonstrate your experience.

For this question, share a specific example illustrating the challenges you encountered, such as equipment limitations or quality assurance issues. Focus on how you used problem-solving techniques to address these obstacles to achieve a successful scale-up.

Mention the importance of open communication and regular meetings among teams to align goals. Discuss how you’ve facilitated workshops or brainstorming sessions to encourage input and foster collaboration, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

Emphasize the significance of data analysis in your workflow. You can mention specific tools or analytical methods you use to inform your decisions, such as predictive modeling or statistical process control, and how this data has influenced successful outcomes.

Illustrate your approach by providing an example of a past conflict, detailing how you mediated the situation to reach a resolution. Emphasize the value of understanding different perspectives and the importance of compromise.

Here you can talk about your eagerness to learn and stay updated with industry trends. Provide examples of how you’ve kept your skills current and adapted processes to incorporate new technology effectively in your past roles.

Discuss metrics like yield rates, efficiency ratios, and quality control benchmarks. Explain how you utilize these metrics to evaluate processes and drive continuous improvement initiatives within your organization.

Detail your familiarity with industry standards and regulations, such as HACCP and ISO. Explain the steps you take to integrate these compliance requirements into process development and engineering to maintain high safety and quality standards.

Provide specific examples that showcase your ingenuity. Discuss how these innovations led to increased efficiency, cost savings, or enhanced product quality, and the methods you used to validate these improvements.

Here, explain your systematic approach to project management, possibly using tools like a prioritization matrix or stakeholder analysis. Provide an example where you managed competing priorities and how you ensured timely project execution.