Operations Manager - Aseptic

At Niagara, we’re looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.

This position is responsible for managing daily operations of the Aseptic Production Area; ensuring the area meets established safety, quality, and production goals in compliance with all applicable legal and food safety requirements from raw material receiving, through blending & batching to the UHT, Aseptic Tanks, Aseptic Filler and packaging.

• Manages and directs activities of the aseptic production department, ensuring product adheres to Niagara’s standard of safety, quality, and throughput while maintaining proper operating aseptic techniques and procedures.
• Collaborates with the planning department to create production schedules that meet both internal and external needs. Establishes and adjusts work procedures and schedules to meet production plan.
• Ensures team members follow all SSOP’s in compliance with aseptic principles, and, adhere to all requirements to protect the sterility & integrity of the process and product.
• Ensures all team members are trained and work in compliance with all applicable standard aseptic work practices, regulatory requirements, GMP’s, HACCP and SQF expectations.
• Maintain quality standards of all products to ensure food safety and quality which meets the expected shelf life.
• Maintains effective working relationships with team members through open communication, visibility, and involvement to promote a positive working environment that maximizes safety, employee engagement, productivity, and throughput.
• Provides direction to supervisors on team member coaching and development, employment decisions, and resolving issues through conflict resolution. Hires, trains, coaches and reviews performance of team members. Partners with Human Resources for recruitment, corrective actions, and terminations.
• Collaborates with Maintenance Department leadership to plan preventative maintenance on the production lines.
• Analyzes and submits reports for production numbers, downtime, attendance, overtime and quality checks to the Plant Director.
• Collaborates with the Plant Director and Planning Department to develop the Production Department budget and forecast.
• Develops, recommends, and implements measures to improve production methods, equipment performance, and quality of product, and to reduce raw material/product shrink.
• Develops capital equipment justification for machine upgrades and process technology to improve quality, cost, and cycle times.
• Suggests changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency of department personnel.
• Interfaces with multiple departments within the organization to ensure customer deadlines are met.
• Collaborates with plant leadership to champion a world‑class safety culture.
• Adheres to the highest standards of company and plant safety programs, guidelines, rules, and regulations.
• Abides by Niagara’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) and Food Safety Standards at all times.
• Collaborates with raw material planners to ensure correct inventories based on production schedules. Escalates supplier quality issues to prevent customer shortages.
• Partners with the Quality Department to prevent and resolve Non‑Conforming Finished Goods and Non‑Conforming Raw Materials.
• Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of the job.
• Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • 6 Years – Experience in Aseptic Field or similar manufacturing environment
  • 6 Years – Experience in Position
  • 4 Years – Experience managing people/projects
  • Understanding of aseptic production processes and controls
  • Food processing experience in an aseptic manufacturing environment
  • Demonstrate functional and technical knowledge of the aseptic process
• Experience may include a combination of work experience and education.
• Preferre…