General Manager

FreshRealm - CONNECTING THROUGH MEALS

At FreshRealm we aspire to be THE fresh meal company. Fresh meals are our focus, and we are passionate about revolutionizing this rapidly growing category. 

FreshRealm develops, sources, commercializes and assembles fresh meals. Fresh meals, including meal kits, ready-to-heat, and ready-to-cook offerings are 100% our focus. We partner with leading Grocery, Convenience, and Omni channel retailers to deliver the very best meals to their customers. Our success is measured by the success of our retail partners. Service, quality, and consistency are our obsession, and we take pride in every meal that our customers place on their shelves.

At FreshRealm meals are more than a source of nutrition; they are our passion. Meals are the heart of a timeless ritual of sitting down to connect with family, friends, and ourselves. We are proud to play a small part in the ritual of “connecting us through meals.”

If you are a leader looking to build the future of fresh meals, you are growth-minded and thrive in an entrepreneurial environment, or you are excited to work with the country’s largest retailers, go to market with the best in product quality and work with industry leaders that care for each other and their communities, FreshRealm is the perfect fit for you.

OVERVIEW

The General Manager is responsible for managing a fast-paced production plant within FreshRealm’s operations team. Drives the site performance through KPIs to ensure maximum efficiency while at all times, maintaining the highest standards of quality, legislative, and company specifications. Provides training and motivation to team members, using recognition, positive feedback and other rewards with appropriate discretion in a continuous improvement environment. Engages senior managers, operations managers and supervisors to ensure their development and follows all health and Food Safety and Quality standards.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for controlling material used to ensure costs stay within budgeted levels. Monitor shift operations and productivity. Maximize the efficiency of the department and ensure Daily Production plan targets are attained.
• Effectively manage labor resource within the given budgets/targets. Manage issues of discipline, grievance and welfare within the guidelines laid out in the Company’s published policies and procedures.
• Responsible for creating, modifying and adjusting team member work schedules, granting time off, as is appropriate, to ensure effective communication at all levels and complete all necessary work
• Actively resolve problems that team members raise to you. Give positive feedback to help build and provide constructive criticism to develop their skills. Responsible for coaching and discipline of team members.
• Analyze ‘Downtime’ ensuring proper explanation of reasons for ‘Lost’ production and liaise with other Plant Managers on addressing the resulting issues
• Assure inventory accuracy is maintained and the inventory team is trained and proficient in SAP/ERP system. Cycle counts are executed, and adjustments are investigated. Confirm Production Orders, Purchase Orders, Sales Orders, and Inventory Batches are closed daily by the team.
• Promotes ‘Quality’ within the facility by positively reinforcing the Company’s quality ethos and encouraging a ‘right the first time, every time’ approach. Ensure regular attendance at ‘testing panels’ by self and staff.
• Ensure that Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP’s), as indicated by product specifications or other media, is adhered to at all times and stages of the process. Enforce GMP’s, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s), quality and proper documentation of processes. Enforce clean-as-you-go policy and practices.
• Ensure compliance with Food Safety and Quality standards as identified on product specifications, to isolate and address any non-conformance within 24 hours and monitor measures designed to maintain and improve standards within the Department.
• Liaise with the Quality department on issues affecting the plant and with the IT department to ensure faults/repairs are properly reported and corrected and to agree on the availability of machinery and equipment for maintenance
• To identify and effectively resolve any problems affecting performance within the Department. To ensure ‘Process Control’ systems are properly implemented and maintained, including scanning of all items.
• Responsible for the highest level of health and safety for the employees, agency employees and the consumer. Required to report and to complete ‘Accident / Incident’ forms and conduct any necessary investigation, taking measures to prevent additional problems or reoccurrence. Ensure proper training and re-training are conducted as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE JOB

Skills and Requirements

• Minimum (10) years’ experience in a production management role within a fast-paced business, preferably within a chilled food environment
• Good understanding of continuous improvement techniques
• Experience working in a continuous improvement environment and demonstrated delivery through change
• Knowledge of large-scale business start-up is preferred
• Demonstrated ability at being a team player
• Certified and trained in OSHA requirements or expectations, HACCP, SDS, First Aid/CPR, and Food Hygiene
• Ability to motivate others to work routine, monotonous processes and stand for extended periods of time in Temperature controlled environments
• Must have a good understanding of English, bilingual (Spanish) speaking skills are helpful
• Ability to work in a cold/ damp environment and stand for extended periods
• Strong analytical skills, creating and interpreting data to create actionable work plans

Experience / Education

• Advanced education in Food Safety or Culinary Arts is helpful
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent education, a degree or certificates in HACCP, Food Handling, Culinary Arts or other related training or education is preferred
• Experience working in a fresh food manufacturing environment
• 5 years or more experience applying and enforcing routine Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) in a food environment is essential

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Learning Agility - the willingness and ability to learn from experience, and subsequently apply that learning to perform successfully under new or first-time conditions.
• Drive for Results - Can be counted on to deliver on what is required to advance the company; takes ownership of work from start to 100% finished work, brings others along with focused intensity
• Functional Skills - Possesses top level relevant, usable, experience and knowledge with the ability to establish themself as the best performer in the industry, at their role and level
• Courage - Prioritizes actions and decisions that move the company forward without hesitation around moments of uncomfortableness; laser focused on the tasks at hand that makes any conflict that could get in the way of that an afterthought
• Thoughtful - In-charge of the room, establishes clear directions in all forms of communication, inclusive, motivates, and in service to others
• Business Athlete - Understands and can execute on and expand FreshRealm's competitive edge strategies, knowledgeable about current and future industry dynamics, knows the competition, winner.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT/WORK CONDITIONS

Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is frequently exposed to a variety of varying weather conditions, trash, waste, chemicals and other materials. The noise level in the work environment and facility can be loud. The employee must be able to adapt to working in an environment that is chilled and that surfaces may be slippery. 

Physical Requirements: Sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting up to 40lbs, pull/push up to 60 lbs, grasp small products, and identify very small variations in the product. Sight is required for observing work and production. May spend several hours using a computer to create reports, analyze data and respond to inquiries and issues. May be exposed to active machinery and moving equipment, food particles and trash. May be required to use a forklift or other machinery.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may be required to perform other business duties as assigned.

Covid-19 protocols are consistent with State Regulations