Superintendent (2nd Shift - Acorn) at Farmer Focus in Harrisonburg, VA

Who We Are and What We Do

Farmer Focus’s mission is to promote and protect generational family farms by shifting farm-level decision-making and chicken ownership back to farmers and empowering them to farm the way they know is best. We are committed to consistently producing 100% organic and humanely raised chicken that is better for people, the planet, and animals.  Our culture is rooted in servant leadership, and we live by our Farmer Focus CARES values: Community, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Stewardship.

How this role will be impactful

The shift Superintendent is responsible for providing direction to all production supervisors in packaging on their designated shift. This includes ensuring a safe, well-organized, efficient operation with minimum downtime; strictly adhering to company standards and procedures and customer specifications and quality standards; complying with the department HACCP Plan and providing for HACCP recordkeeping; and assigning, training, and monitoring staff in accordance with company policies.

Directs second shift processing supervisors to meet production orders in conjunction with team members to:

• Maintain quality standards of products.
• Maintain department performance within standards for efficient utilization of human resources and materials.
• Maintain and report production-related information regarding yields, efficiencies, and labor utilization to the Plant Manager.
• Seek new opportunities for continuous improvement in materials and processes, including lean manufacturing and TQM.
• Ensure that all production processes and products adhere to GMP standards and customer specifications and are in compliance with the company’s HACCP Plan.
• Ensure equipment and work areas are appropriately maintained and operating continuously and efficiently by maintenance staff and outside vendors, in consultation with the Maintenance Manager and Plant Manager.
• Establish and maintain appropriate working relationships with other management personnel, vendors, and USDA representatives.
• Keep abreast of current poultry processing technologies and systems.
• Ensure compliance with USDA, OSHA, EEO, and other appropriate government regulations.
• Perform other related responsibilities, as needed, to support Farmer Focus business objectives.

What you bring to this role

• Associate degree in Poultry Science, Animal Science, Agriculture, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent in experience
• 3 years proven supervisory experience in poultry plant management or other manufacturing
• Ability to organize, plan, and complete work in a timely fashion
• Demonstrated positive attitude and uncompromising regard for quality
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to communicate and work effectively with a variety of people
• Ability to motivate others to work towards an environment of continuous improvement
• Demonstrated ability to work well with and guide other people effectively and to positively influence the attitude and performance of others
• Strong reading, math, writing, and analytical skills
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel

The following will make you an even better potential candidate for this position:

• Mentor and motivate team members, providing training and development to optimize their performance and personal growth.
• Communicate performance standards to team members, recognizing and rewarding individual and team accomplishments and counseling performance problems.
• Communicate standards and ensure compliance with company procedures, GMP’s, and HAACP procedures.
• Train and enforce safety regulations and practices.
• Manage staffing, line coverage, and attendance.
• Facilitate team meetings, including team member training. Ensure appropriate documentation is completed and maintained.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:   Will be required to access the production environment. Must be able to tolerate the varying heat, wet, and chill of the plant. Hearing and eye protective equipment required in the production area. Required to wear hair and beard nets in the production area.

Farmer Focus is committed to the principles of equal employment and to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is inclusive and equitable, free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based upon an individual's age, race (including traits historically associated with race, which includes hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity, or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), military status (including status as a uniformed servicemember, a veteran, or dependent of a servicemember), or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Farmer Focus is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.