Agronomy Plant Superintendent (Req 12370)

Are you interested in joining an industry leader who is passionate about growth? At Southern States Cooperative (A Farmer Owned Cooperative since 1923); we are focused on helping our employees and our customers grow, by being the very best at offering challenging and rewarding career opportunities to our employees and providing superior products, services and growing solutions for our valued customers. We want to hear from you, so come grow with us!!!

The Southern States Agronomy Plant Superintendent will oversee daily operations and maintenance at SSC Agronomy Plant located in Statesville, NC. Rely on specialized knowledge of operations, warehousing, regulations, and customer requirements to safely optimize plant efficiency. Supervise production and maintenance employees.

How you will impact Southern States Cooperative:

• Plan and direct daily production schedules and distribution operations. Schedule production to maximize efficiencies and comply with state and federal regulations. Ensure automated process control systems are fully utilized. Continuously communicate production and delivery schedules with management team and employees.
• Establish production goals, housekeeping standards and other performance related criteria. Communicate regularly with employees to provide leadership and direction. Provide coaching to achieve these goals and standards. Recognize accomplishments and encourage team work. Utilize computer system to monitor and track production metrics.
• Oversee inventory control programs for shipping, receiving, and storage of bulk materials and manufactured goods. Monitor bulk materials inventory to ensure a continuous supply for production. Perform daily review and documentation of ingredients. Lead and assist employees to perform monthly physical inventory. ( SEED FACILITY --Establish & maintain procedures for receiving and storing perishable seed material in a manner that maximizes seed viability and minimizes losses.)
• Establish, communicate and enforce Quality Control standards in the manufacturing process and warehousing operations. Lead investigations of off-quality conditions and/or damaged products by reviewing details and providing operations expertise to resolve issues. Ensure employees consistently perform required quality control procedures and meet current regulations and requirements. Maintain documentation and compliance records according to facility operating procedures. ( SEED FACILITY --Ensure seed lots are submitted to laboratory for testing, and that each seed lot is affixed with appropriate analysis data prior to shipping to retail locations.)
• Coordinate an effective plant maintenance and improvement program in coordination with facility leadership. Continually monitor plant facility and equipment to identify maintenance needs. Schedule, assign, monitor and track preventative maintenance and repair activities. Ensure the facility operating equipment and all related vehicles are in good working order to minimize down-time.
• Purchase operations and maintenance supplies as needed to ensure a continuous supply and avoid work stoppage. Comply with purchasing policies and maintain cost control by obtaining quotes from suppliers and negotiating competitive pricing whenever possible.
• Oversee staffing of operations and maintenance team members. Coordinate and assign daily work schedules. Partner with facility leadership to interview and hire employees. Maintain appropriate staffing levels based on production needs, including seasonal demand.
• Coordinate training efforts for new hires and current staff. Provide on-the-job training to individuals and groups as needed. Administer personnel programs in coordination with facility management. Establish and communicate performance standards for plant employees. Continuously evaluate performance and provide training to improve skill sets. Administer corrective action as necessary.

What you need to succeed:

Education: Prefer a Bachelor's Degree in related field, will consider other education with related manufacturing/plant operations experience and demonstrated leadership abilities. A combination of completed coursework and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree.

Experience: Requires 2-4 years of related experience in a production environment with 1 year in a leadership role. Prefer operational knowledge of fertilizer processing/seed processing, as well as facility and equipment maintenance. A Class A or ability to obtain is preferred.

• Operational knowledge of fertilizer/seed processing equipment and facility maintenance
• Operational knowledge of fork lift, hand truck, pallet jack, and other specialized industry equipment
• Effective communication skills
• Effective team building skills
• Able to manage and administer Quality Control, Environmental Protection, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and plant policies
• Able to manage various operations simultaneously, including integrating maintenance with production for best efficiency in both areas
• Able to perform data analysis to modify operations for increased efficiency

Some of the many benefits we offer:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Accident Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Paid Time Office
• Vacation Buy-Back
• Company Holidays
• Tuition Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Legal Services
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Merchandise Discounts
• Wellness Program
• Volunteer Program
• Employee Referral Bonus Program

Southern States Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against individuals based on their race, color, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, family medical history or genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws, or regulations.