Job Summary

This role provides strategic direction for the site’s operations organization. The role inte-grates safety and business expectations to ensure operations effectiveness and efficiency. The role directs and coordinates all activities of production, process engineering, and logis-tics to ensure the production and shipment of products in a safe, cost-effective and envi-ronmentally sound manner that maintains high standards for product quality and is respon-sive to customer needs and production requirements. The Operations Manager is a key member of the Newark site leadership team and supports and establishes a strong safety and productive culture.

IFF has an exciting opportunity for an Operation Manager at the IFF Newark Delaware site. The IFF Newark Delaware site is a part of IFF Pharma Solutions business and is a leading supplier to the food and pharmaceutical industries.

This role will focus on day-to-day operations and support the production of Newark Avicel®, AcDiSol®, and Aquacoat® processes.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

General Management

Serves as a proactive member of Management Team by providing technical expertise, identifying cost-saving opportunities;Resolves worker grievances or submits unsettled grievances to Human Resources for action;Interacts with location and divisional cross-functional groups to optimize plant operations;Ensure the operations department adheres to IFF Core Principles and Quality GMP and Food Safety guidelines;Ensure operations department objectives are aligned with site and business direction;Improve operations efficiencies and develop and implement best practices;Ensure effective daily management of the operations department, which includes Union employees, staff, and resident contractors;Provide technical expertise to analyze and resolve recurring issues that impact plant uptime;Actively participates on the Site Leadership team to set direction and optimize overall site productivity;Implement Lean concepts, improve equipment reliability, and operations productivity, and optimize overall asset life cycle costs;Direct the Operations Team in the preparation of shutdown work schedules and assigning of projects to maintain/exceed the level of performance needed to meet departmental goals;Perform other job-related duties and responsibilities as assigned.Review production orders or schedules to ascertain product data such as types, quantities, and specifications of products and scheduled delivery dates to plan department operations;Accountable for planning production operations, establishing manufacturing priorities and sequences;Accountable for the preparation of operational schedules and coordinates manufacturing activities to ensure production and quality of products meet specifications;Reviews production and operating reports and resolves operational, manufacturing, and maintenance problems to ensure minimum costs and prevent operational delay;.Develops or revises standard operational and working practices and observes workers to ensure compliance with standards;

Provide operational resources to support investments in projects that improve quality and capability to meet internal and external customer needs and corporate, group, division, and site goals;

Safety, Health, and Environment

Support safety policies and procedures by ensuring that all operations work and engineering projects assigned have been critically reviewed for safety & health considerations;Ensure all assigned employees understand and comply with all plant safety rules, policies, and standards operating procedures;Ensure employee adherence to Life Critical procedures;Ensure that investigations are conducted into any safety or environmental observations/incidents and develop and implement programs to prevent re-occurrence;Support plant-wide Process Safety Management (PSM) and personnel safety and Quality efforts;Maintain and review systems that impact process safety (procedures, process change, refresher training, new installation training, etc) such that the integrity of the management system is maintained in operations areas.Direct and lead safety, health, and environmental programs and activities to provide safe and productive working conditions in the facility;Participate in establishing training & drills to increase employee safety awareness;Develop and implement a waste minimization plan for the facility such that equipment and procedures are safe and any significant changes are reviewed before implementation;

Quality Assurance

Ensure the Production Team identifies and prevents non-conformance to quality specifications and encourage all employees to identify and prevent non-conformance to quality specifications;Ensure document control within the Production Team;Ensure that adequate traceability is documented and maintained for products under department control;Encourage identification and prevention of non-conformance to quality procedures and specifications;Ensure that investigations are conducted into any process deviations or non-conformances and develop and implement programs to prevent re-occurrence;Understand and anticipate customer needs and implement performance measurements responsive to such needs;Communicate continuous improvements in key measurements including on-time delivery, product quality, and process capability;Stay abreast of customer concerns and customer satisfaction (internal and external);Facilitate customer trials, technical service, commercial development, and customer interaction as needed to support marketing initiatives;Ensure follow-up and consistency of pharma compliance protocols and continuous improvement plansEnsure compliance with policies, procedures, safety and pharma/food safety standards, country regulations, authorizations, and permits.Responsible for compliance with the site's Food Safety Management Systems (IS09001:2015, FSSC 22000) requirements.

Budgeting/Purchasing/Cost Control

Effective management department budget and optimize operations spending;Implement cost savings by periodic vendor price comparisons;Participate in the preparation of annual Plant budget and periodic forecasts by preparation of budget estimates for Production areas (raw material usages, production forecasts, capital expenditures, etc) which serve as the operating plan to achieve desired productivity and cost control objectives;Pursue profitable growth through the achievement of cost reduction, budget compliance, and expanding the scope of activities performed by the Production Team;Monitor, communicate, and forecast variances from financial performance targets;Initiate improvement projects for cost reduction and process efficiency improvement;Assist in capital project preparation when necessary to ensure cost-effective production.

Administration

Ensure that personnel policies, procedures, and guidelines are administered within the Operations Team in a consistent and equitable manner;Develop and direct employees in a proactive manner by fostering both individual employee contributions and development and cooperative teamwork, motivating toward total quality performance, and exercising effective communication;Conduct Performance Appraisals timely and coach and counsel direct reports to achieve optimal development opportunities;Establish and communicate performance and behavioral standards and expectations;Promote multi-skilling among the operator roles to create a flexible workforce and to foster the growth of capability within the Production Team.

Note: Position responsibilities are summarized and the incumbent may be directed to perform other related duties and responsibilities as necessary.

The Pharma Solutions business will be taking on its next chapter of growth as a trusted partner for the pharmaceutical industry with the announcement to sell Pharma Solutions to Roquette. This move will position Pharma Solutions to expand its industry leadership through continued investment in innovation to meet the evolving needs of pharmaceutical manufacturers and developers worldwide.
The sale is presently expected to close in the first half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. The Pharma Solutions business unit will remain a part of IFF until close and, at such time, it will transition to Roquette. In applying for this position, you acknowledge your awareness that the position is a part of the Pharma Solutions business unit and has been identified to transition to Roquette.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience

B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering (highly preferred), Chemistry or related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience.Minimum of 7 years in a chemical manufacturing or processing facility (food, flavors, cosmetic, chemical, or pharmaceutical environment preferred) with a minimum of 10 years of progressive management experience in line or staff position.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

Strong analytical, personal computer, organizational, and leadership abilities.Strong communication skills (written, verbal, and listening) and interpersonal skills.Strong problem-solving ability.Expert knowledge of process technology and Avicel manufacturing is preferred.Strong project management and communication skills;Ability to manage time, balance priorities, and manage conflict;Good analytical skills with demonstrated ability to consistently solve problems in a decisive and efficient manner;Computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, graphics & database)

Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

Good working knowledge and understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems with working knowledge of SAP are highly desirable.Lean Six Sigma or DPS project event experience.Experience in heavy industrial or chemical technical applications.Experience managing in a Union environment.MBA is helpful but not required. 

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more