Plant Director

Segment : Mars Food & Nutrition

Contract : permanent

Location : Châteaudun, France

The Plant Director is accountable for all activities on the site and to develop & deploy the strategic direction for the site in line with its role in the Supply network in order to deliver a superior customer experience. It is essential to create a safe and engaging working environment for all associates on site and it’s mandatory to have/keep processes in place that guarantee conformance with all Mars standards and all Safety, Quality & Food Safety, Hygiene, Environment and Legal Requirements. Through Operational Excellence (MSE global standard deployment) the markets will receive the right product at the right time at the right cost. It is one only a two multiple technology sites in our Global Food network.

What are we looking for?

• BSc/MSc degree, preferably with engineering, industrial / operations management, and or food science qualifications. MBA or advanced degree a plus.
• 8-10 years business experience, including broad and significant supply chain functional expertise, understanding and ability to apply Lean principles
• High levels of integrity and ethics, resulting in strong, business partnerships.
• Demonstrated change management experience.
• Demonstrated team engagement and ability to develop talent for succession planning, people and process leadership skills and extensive line management experience essential
• Understanding of world class safety models so that risks are minimized and improvements are sustained. Must have knowledge of safety drivers and function of the audit processes.
• Understanding of quality and food safety models so that risks are minimized and improvements are sustained. Must have knowledge of food safety drivers and function of the audit processes.
• Must be willing to travel for global VCO meetings.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Set up the site strategy focusing on operational excellence
• Develop a robust talent pipeline within the site organization and ensure associates understand how to develop their career integrating the relevant way of working Mars / Axe Cereales due to Join Venture.
• Build a 5 Principles centric Mars culture on site through a high levels of associate engagement, a passion for food, and a superior experience for our customers by delivering quality products on time in full.
• Accountable for associate safety and food safety.
• Inspire and engage direct and indirect reports by role modelling and through high performance team behaviors. Create a positive work environment.
• Develop a strategic plan for the site that support the Supply network in line with the defined role of the site.
• Contribute to, Engage and Influence the Global VCO Leadership Team (job holder is a member of this team) to improve the business performance, the talent pipe line and drive transformational projects.
• Fully support European Food Initiatives and roll-out into the site.
• Plan and deploy MSE on site to significantly improve productivity, quality, and profitability, while guaranteeing associate and food safety.
• Accountable for and managing site budgets and site CAB and champion project implementation.
• Accountable for the site being compliant with all Mars standards and regulatory requirements.
• Maintaining the site at the right standards and guaranteeing the reliability and conformity (standards) off all assets to support the short and long term (demand) needs.
• Responsible for right communication flow to all associates.
• Accountable to provide and secure adequate training for all associates.
• Develop and ensure organizational structures to best fit the Market, Supply and Associates needs.
• Develop, manage and implement the site Value Leadership program.
• Champion of continuous improvement within the whole site organisation towards operational excellence.
• Acting as the interface between Global & local logistics teams
• Deliver or exceed agreed business performance metrics in the areas of safety, quality, cost, customer service, inventory, management, etc.

What can you expect from Mars?

• At Mars, we believe in a relationship of mutual trust, dignity and respect between our company and Associates that is more meaningful than the standard employer/employee relationship.
• As Associates, we can expect to be respected, supported and valued as individuals, to be treated fairly and equitably.
• An environment where you have the opportunity to be proactive, take initiative to make a difference and be rewarded for your performance.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and 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 law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.