The Van Drunen Family of Companies is growing!
Position Summary:
As a member of the Production Leadership Team, this role is responsible for developing and executing supply strategies and operational goals for the Van Drunen Farms (VDF) family of companies. The Site Director will lead all aspects of plant operations to ensure safety, quality, efficiency, and continuous improvement through engagement.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership:
- Collaborate with the Operations Leadership Team to define and implement supply strategies and goals to meet customer demand and objectives.
- Establish objectives and strategies for all phases of plant operations to maintain a functional, efficient, and profitable facility.
- Operational Excellence:
- Lead the team to achieve performance targets, clearly communicate expectations, and provide regular feedback.
- Develop and maintain organizational health to drive continuous improvement and competitive advantage.
- Partner with the Plant Production Controller to create and manage the plant operating budget and forecast, focusing on profitability, equipment efficiency, production output, inventory accuracy, labor cost control, and expense management.
- Production & Process Improvement
- Actively participate in the company’s master production schedule, advocating optimal solutions for customers and VDF.
- Advance production performance through improved materials, techniques, and processes.
- Foster a plant-wide culture of continuous improvement in collaboration with the plant leadership team including but not limited to safety, quality, engineering, maintenance, production manager and controller.
- Define, monitor, and report on key metrics and KPIs, including but not limited to:
- Safety and Quality leading and lagging measures
- Turnover and Engagement measures
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- Yield and Scrap Rates
- Production Throughput and Cycle Times
- Inventory Management
- Labor Efficiency and Overtime Control
- Downtime Analysis and Root Cause Resolution
- Cost per Unit and Budget Variance
- Use data-driven insights to identify opportunities for improvement and implement corrective actions to optimize plant performance.
- Customer & Community Engagement:
- Serve as the plant liaison for customers, ensuring a welcoming environment and strong relationships.
- Cultivate positive relationships with the local community and government.
- People Development & Culture:
- Create a positive work environment that promotes growth and development.
- Conduct fair and consistent performance reviews and provide training opportunities.
- Safety & Compliance:
- Ensure a safe and healthy workplace by complying with all OSHA regulations and VDF policies.
- Drive continuous improvement in safety practices.
- Food Safety & Quality:
- Implement, enforce, and enhance food safety and quality systems in alignment with corporate policies.
- Plant Maintenance:
- Direct oversight and ownership of the site maintenance, reliability, preventative maintenance, policies and procedures as it relates to site maintenance activities.
- Environmental Responsibility:
- Perform duties in an environmentally responsible manner.
- Other Duties:
- Support and promote the company’s mission, values, and policies.
- Make informed decisions on critical aspects of plant operations.
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
- Minimum 10 years of experience in plant operations management or related roles.
- Proven success in leading a food processing facility or manufacturing operation.
- Demonstrated proficiency in financial, production, safety, and quality leadership.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Alignment with company Mission Statement: Honor God in all we do; Help people develop; Strive for excellence; Serve customers with world-class products; Grow profitably.
- Strong strategic thinking and execution skills with a relentless focus on improvement.
- Ability to analyze complex decisions using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
- Solid understanding of production equipment, systems, and controls.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite.
- Ability to lead effectively in emergency situations.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to perform all physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and technical skills required of personnel so classified.
- Expected Pay Range: $135K-$155K, exempt
- Bonus: This role may further qualify for supplemental compensation in the form of bonus and incentive programs, contingent upon achieving pre-established individual and company performance metrics.
- Benefits Eligible: Yes
- Benefits Available: 2026-benefits-summary.pdf
In the Van Drunen Family of Companies, commitment to excellence is in everything we do! As a global ingredient and nutritional supplement supplier to the world’s best companies, we thrive on nourishing others with our products and our care for people. If you are looking to make an impact and grow with a family-friendly, values-driven company, you'll fit right in with the Van Drunen Family of Companies!
Our employees are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creativity, innovation, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our Company’s achievement as well.
The Van Drunen Family of Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at recruiting@vandrunen.com.
Van Drunen Family of Companies does not accept unsolicited resumes. Any resumes, CV’s, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a submitted request and written search agreement for a position-specific requisition will be deemed the sole property of Van Drunen Family of Companies and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by our Company.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran