Sr. Technical Engineering Manager (Manufacturing)

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role serves as the key technical and quality liaison between OLIPOP and its co-manufacturing partners, overseeing the implementation and adherence to OLIPOP’s quality standards, production specifications, and regulatory compliance. With a focus on continuous improvement, this position drives operational excellence through hands-on plant support, cross-functional collaboration, and leadership in training, commercialization, and product trials.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee all aspects of OLIPOP’s Quality Specifications on behalf of Olipop, ensuring alignment with CCP’s, GMP’s, and City, State, and Federal Compliance.  Assist in implementing new quality and production programs from the field and reporting back to Corporate HQ to support both long-term and short-term business objectives.
• Manage the relationship between OLIPOP and the co-manufacturer Production and Quality Department. Monitor performance to OLIPOP procedures, specifications, written Manufacturing Instructions, SOP’s and create plant specific KPI’s. 
• Lead the training efforts to support training factory management, and employees on implementing OLIPOP Processes and Specifications.  Responsible for implementing and writing inspection and re-work processes and training plant personnel on new and existing processes.
• Review, monitor, and report on co-manufacturers overall Quality System which includes their Food Safety, HACCP, and Allergen programs to ensure compliance to all written OLIPOP Specifications and SOP’s.
• Review, monitor, and report on co-manufacturers GMP, SOP, and SSOP’s to ensure compliance to all written OLIPOP Specifications and SOP’s.
• Oversee the creation and distribution of trial plans for formula trials performed at plants.  Lead the documentation and reporting of results of trials. 
• Responsible for new line commissioning and commercialization.  Provide Technical Support for all new product launches (i.e., new batching instruction, ingredient, can, cap, label, tray, pallet pattern, new co-manufacturer, etc.). 
• Review all Process and Packaging Documentation while in the facility and on the line.  Make corrections where needed ensuring product is being product to standard.
• When not onsite monitoring of daily plant activities and prior days documentation ensuring that the OLIPOP’s standards had been met.  If not, schedule follow up meetings with key department on why standards were not met.
• Create and maintain Continuous Improvement Logs for co-manufacturing facilities.
• Provide progress reports to co-manufacturing facilities and OLIPOP Leadership.
• Work in partnership with co-manufacturing facilities to make improvements to reduce the number of continuous improvement occurrences (goal) within their organization.
• Create Trial Plans, Perform Trials, and document trials.  Requires coordination with co-manufacturing facilities, OEMs, and Vendors, along with OLIPOP HQ.
• Coordinates inspection of trial and reports result of trial to OEM’s, Vendors, and OLIPOP HQ as required.
• Coordinates OEM’s, Vendors, and OLIPOP HQ to support Trials, Product Launches, or other Technical Support needs supporting OLIPOP Production.
• Review all Quality Holds weekly and work with OLIPOP Quality and co-manufacturing facility on Action Plan. 
• Review customer complaints per co-manufacture facility with OLIPOP Quality and help develop actionable items to reduce cpm’s at co-manufacture’s facility.
• Assist other departments as needed while onsite at co-manufacturing facilities. (i.e., Audits, Inspections, Cycle Counts, etc.)
• Assist other departments as needed to audit supplier locations for FSMA domestic and foreign ingredient compliance.
• Assist Quality as needed with product release and disposition under the direction and report all results to OLIPOP Quality.
• Vast knowledge in the following areas
  • Plant Operations/Utilities (i.e., Utilities, Wastewater, Boilers, and Compressors)
  • Supply Chain (Planning, inbound, and outbound of goods)
  • Batching (Single Strength and Syrup batching Processing)
  • Thermal Processing (UHT and HTST Systems)
  • Production (Tray, Pad, Carton capabilities)
  • Re-Packing (Variety Pack experience)
  • Warehouse & Inventory Control (i.e., FIFO, FEFO, Cycle Counting)
    • Verify compliance of inventory, receiving and warehousing SOP’s 

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required
• 5 years prior relevant experience
• 8+ years of experience in Technical Manufacturing/Engineering within CPG
• Has specialized depth and/or breadth of expertise in own discipline or function, has good understanding of other disciplines within the function
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Required to communicate with parties external to the organization (e.g., customers, vendors, etc.)
• Ability to write reports clearly and concisely and in a timely manner
• May need to influence others regarding policies, practices, and procedures
• Frequently works to justify and gain cooperation of other parties on practices, policies, and procedures
• Position requires substantial travel 50 - 75% Travel within the United States
• Evening, Weekend travel or work may be necessary
• HACCP Certification a plus
• Lean Manufacturing, FSMA, and 5s knowledge a plus

REPORTS TO: Sr. Director Operations

COMPENSATION: $160,000-$175,000 base salary + bonus