Associate Production Planner Jobs in Timonium, MD

This role follows a Night Shift Schedule, working from 6:00 PM - 6:30 AM, with designated days off on Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday.

The Shift Manager is responsible for setting shift level production plans and partnering across shifts and departments to complete daily plans while holding Supervisors accountable for production output, efficiency, safety, and food safety standards. In addition, the Shift Manager is responsible for making production, safety, and food safety decisions in lieu of a department head being present and escalating relevant high impact events accordingly. 

Detailed Responsibilities

Shift Management & Production Planning

• Takes the weekly production plan and targets provided by the production planner and creates an  effective shift level production plan for the incoming shift, including any activities that their shift did not complete based on attendance, quality, or shorts. The Shift Manager and incoming Shift Manager should have a daily hand off to discuss the plan to avoid production gaps or miscommunications.
• Effectively communicates their shift's production plan and sets clear goals for the supervisors
• Adjusts their shift's production plan, as needed, in response to product quality issues, shorts, or staffing levels
• Minimizes downtime by maintaining full view of production activities in progress, proactively spotting issues, and problem solving in advance of production shutdowns. Holds supervisors accountable to documenting any downtime and reviews actions taken
• Tracks progress against production plan during shift and works with supervisors to ensure production targets are met
• Assigns tasks to Gatekeepers to drive data accuracy for production, inventory counts, and to keep coolers and freezers organized 
• Attends cross department huddles daily to relay goals and/or significant messages to the team
• Proactively shares production plan with managers and supervisors from FSQA and Warehouse to enable them to effectively support production activities
• Works with FSQA and/or Warehouse to problem solve any cross-functional issues as they arise, following standard processes associated with shorts callouts, shorts investigations, and rejections 
• Owns safety,  on time in full shipments and meals/ hour

Performance Management and Leadership Development for Supervisors 

• Ensures performance reviews and their teams performance reviews are completed on-time and documentation/ verbiage is appropriate 
• Holds team members to the same high level of expectations. Has the right people in the right roles and partners with HR to work out under performers in a timely manner. 
• Proactively solicits feedback from other leaders at the site for team performance  
• Conducts performance reviews for production supervisors on a quarterly basis at minimum and provides prompt feedback
• Models strong people leadership skills to ensure the positivity and strength of our culture and actively works to develop effective people leadership skills in the supervisors 
• Recognizes the team for strong performance and good behaviors through NTF submissions, vocal affirmations, and stand up recognition. 
• Ensures team structure is maintained and supervisors are having routine check-ins with their team. Holds supervisors accountable to holding team huddles and steps in when a supervisor is absent
• Helps to create a coaching culture by providing both positive and developmental feedback to supervisors and working through supervisors to provide appropriate feedback to leads and associates
• Partners with HR and/or temp agency representatives to manage staffing for the shift and daily time and attendance issues
• Manages time off requests for supervisors and acts as an escalation point for associate and lead time off requests 
• Works with supervisors and HR to provide disciplinary actions as needed for hourly employees
• Communicates performance issues with temps to temp agency representatives and Home Chef HR

Accountable for Upholding Team Performance Against Targets, Employee and Food Safety Standards, and Established Best Practices

• Makes shift decisions for all functions based on department SOPs and department management guidance, such as responding to an adverse event, warehouse roadblocks, material shorts, etc. 
• Ensures all Home Chef GMP's and operational guidelines are being followed and enforced
• Owns ensuring the plant is clean/ free of known safety issues (blocked egress doors, trays stacked too high, slip/trip/fall risks).
• Owns coaching supervisors on conducting thorough safety investigations and escalating plant structural issues. Holds supervisors accountable to completing incident reports on time and properly
• Supports the efforts of the company to maintain our food safety system (SQF) and quality programs
• Knows, understands, and supports Home Chef's Cardinal Rules of Safety and Food Safety
• Keeps safety in forefront of all business decisions made and holds all direct reports accountable for ensuring safe execution of daily activities. Leads safety meetings for the entire shift. 
• Holds self and supervisors accountable to completing Behavioral Safety Observations, Near Misses, and Food Safety Call It Outs.
• Actively participates in Incident Review Board meetings and follows up on corrective actions to ensure completion on their shift.  Assists with reports on root cause analysis as needed. 
• Supports Home Chef's Safety Goals and is directly accountable for injury rates on their shift
• Completes all required training on time and enforces on time completion of all compliance and leadership training with the team. 
• Supports and participates in all emergency activities mandated by the Company
• Maintains a strong Safety Record, Error Rate, and OTFR for the shift. Effectively cascades metrics down to the broader team.
• Partners with Continuous Improvement team to identify non-value add work and implements process changes to improve efficiency

SOPs & Audits

• Has deep knowledge of all Standard Operating Procedures for production as well as all standard procedures related to cross-department coordination at the shift level
• Sets expectations for strict adherence to all SOPs for all production processes for all supervisors and leads
• Creates culture of SOP feedback amongst team and works with Continuous Improvement team to revise and improve SOPs 
• Serves as the primary driver of process change on the floor during the roll out of modifications to SOPs
• Actively participates in SOPs audit program as defined and conducted by the Continuous Improvement Team

This position requires 0% travel

Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability and/or other characteristics needed for this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

• Completion of a four-year degree program in a related field such as Business Administration OR equivalent level of experience in operations
• Minimum of 3 years of successful managerial leadership experience in a fast paced environment 
• Cross-functional experience in 2 more departments (warehouse, production, quality, procurement etc.) preferred.  
• Track record of driving KPIs and meeting or exceeding goal a must
• Experience in developing team members through both leading and managing
• Strong track record of people leadership experience and positive culture management/improvement
• Proficient with Excel, ERP systems, and mobile technology (tablets, cell phone, etc.)
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must have floor presence and be able to stand/walk for up to 12 hours in a cold environment up to 40 degrees F.
• Must be available to respond to work related inquiries during off hours (including nights and weekends)
• Flexibility to change processes quickly and adhere to day end goal
• Communicates and leads safety above all else and create culture around it
• Full knowledge of SQF, HACCP and GMP programs