fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers.
With over $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife's portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes: fairlife ultra-filtered milk; Core Power High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife nutrition plan, a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health.
A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.
To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com.
job purpose:
TheSr. Project Operations Managerleadsall plant-side operational readiness,startup, and commissioning activities foran expansion, serving as the bridge between project execution and steady-state operation to ensure a safe,compliantand high-performing transition.
responsibilities:
Leadplant-sideoperational readiness and startup fora major expansionby building and directing a crossfunctional team responsible for all activitiesrequiredto successfully commission and transition new lines tosteady stateplant ownership.
Serve as the primary liaison between the project organization and plant leadership, ensuring plant operational needs, risks, and insights are fully represented in project planning, design decisions, and execution.
Own change management and communication to the plant, clearly translating project decisions, design changes, and operational impacts to plant teams while intentionally managing plant involvement in project forums to avoid disruption and overload.Engage plant leaders in critical discussions as needed to inform decisions and ensure readiness.
Oversight of hiring, training, and SOP developmentaligned with the project timelineand production ramp upto ensure a successful handoff to the plant team.
Ensure asset, maintenance, and material readiness byestablishingreliable maintenance programs for all new equipment and systems, including, critical spare parts identification and inventory, preventive maintenancestrategiesandschedules.
Coordinate and execute all plant infrastructure tie-ins, including utilities, access points, traffic patterns, and facility interfaces, ensuring activities areproperly planned, communicated, and executed with minimal impact to existing operations.
Ensure quality, safety, and environmentalreadiness bycoordinating QA requirements including sanitary design reviews, validation activities, and QA equipment readiness.
Ensuring all safety programs, environmental policies, permits, and regulatory considerations are incorporated into project planning and startupand applying existing plant safety and food safety standards to all new equipment and processes.
Incorporate lessons learned and best practices from existingfairlifeoperations and prior expansions into design and execution, including participating in equipment FATs and benchmarking visits to otherfairlifeplants tovalidatedesign, readiness, and operational standards.
Develop, align, and communicatestartupand rampupcurves that meet business, quality, and service requirements.Activelymanageearly lifeperformance.
Drive and measure startup success using defined KPIs, includingEHS, product quality and regulatory compliance, employee engagement and morale throughout the change, production rampupperformance,andlong-termequipment reliability during the first 2-3 years of operation.
skills/qualifications required:
Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing or plant leadership experience, including direct involvement in major capital projects, startups, or commissioning.
Experience in dairy, brewing, food, or pharmaceutical manufacturing; aseptic processing experiencestronglypreferred.
Strong leadership capability witha track recordof building trust, influencing crossfunctional teams, and delivering results.
Ability to lead through ambiguityDemonstrated ability toidentifyand mitigate food safety risks associated with temperaturesensitive raw materials such as milk.
Demonstrated ability to analyze andreengineeroperations and processes, develop policies, and design and implement effective strategies and procedures.
Strong communicationskills, both verbal and written, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
Experience working with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.
Knowledge of budgeting, cost estimation, and fiscal management related to capital projects.
food safety requirements:
Notify supervision of any repairs oradjustments that are requiredthat may affect product quality or food safety.
Understand,observe, andcomply withthe handling and usage of the color-coded container policy while in the Production Areas.
Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company.
Ability toinitiateaction to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety... For full info follow application link.
fairlife, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. All qualified applicants and employees will be given equal opportunity. Selection decisions are based on job-related factors.
In addition to its nondiscrimination commitment, the Company will also provide reasonable accommodation of qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the Company. If you have a disability and would like to request accommodation in order to apply for a position with us, please email [email protected].
