Operations Lead

LOCATION: Cedar Rapids

REPORTS TO: Department Lead

SUPERVISION: Production Associates

Company Background:

Ingredion is a Fortune 500 provider of ingredient solutions that helps nourish, comfort, sustain, and delight people around the world. Ingredion’s wide range of ingredient solutions is strategically designed to address changing consumer trends and preferences. Our specialty portfolio includes starch-based texturizers, clean and simple ingredients, plant-based proteins, sugar reduction and specialty sweeteners, and food systems. Our innovative ingredient solutions are used by consumers in everyday products, from foods and beverages to paper and pharmaceuticals. And we do it all in a planet-friendly sustainable manner.

We bring the potential of people, nature, and technology together to make life better.

That’s our purpose. We are all IN to make life better!

Every day, Ingredion employees bring their skills, creativity, and passion together to deliver ingredient solutions that enhance people’s lives. We are innovators who combine the power of technology with the best of nature to delight our customers and consumers. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in ethics, safety, quality, and sustainability. Unlocking the potential of people, nature, and technology to make life better is what drives us in every aspect of our business.

If you are interested in making life better, we are all IN to learn more about you! A bit about what you can expect from the employee experience at Ingredion:

The chance to make a difference

No matter where you work in the company, you’ll have an opportunity to make life better… for our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world.

Passionate people, motivated to excel

Our highly talented people have a passion for learning and achievement and are driven by our inspiring purpose to make life better and our core values: Care First, Be Preferred, Everyone Belongs, Innovate Boldly, and Owner’s Mindset.

A warm, welcoming environment

At Ingredion, everyone belongs! We embrace diversity and foster an inclusive work environment where individuals feel supported and enabled to contribute their very best every day.

A place where you can grow personally and professionally

We believe everyone has great potential, and we strive to nurture that potential into great personal and professional achievements.

An environment that enables innovation and collaboration

We are creating the conditions that inspire and enable innovation - in our products and services, as well as in how we do our work day-to-day.

The Operations Lead is being the key on-site contact for any site emergencies. They will also provide leadership for off-shift, weekend, and holiday plant operations. Other responsibilities include but are not limited to supporting growth initiatives and collaborating and communicating across functions.

As a Operations Lead, your responsibilities will include:

• Key internal and external contact in the event of any environmental, health, and safety related emergency situations (Incident Commander).
• Provide first responder services to the extent of his/her training and qualification as determined by the EHS group and notify the appropriate parties inside and/or outside the Company should the situation require.
• Responsible for management and resource allocation regarding emergency maintenance activities for the facility.
• Lead efficient and effective facility operation. This involves maintaining oversight of ongoing operations; recognizing undesired operating conditions or potentially undesirable operating trends; and following up with the appropriate personnel to facilitate timely and proper resolution.
• Identify and communicate potential and ongoing process improvement projects in all areas of the manufacturing process.
• Support the management team in following through on information sharing, training, capital project implementation, and other initiatives designed to improve plant operating effectiveness and efficiency.
• Support key growth initiatives and objectives.
• Work with the Operations, EHS, and Engineering teams to understand and add value to the business goals and direction.
• Work closely with the site work force to locate opportunities for improved safety, operational efficiencies, and cost savings.
• Maintain a productive and effective relationship with all members of the team as well as company affiliates, to ensure clear rapid flow of information. Act as the ambassador for the company in team settings and encouraging product collaboration.
• Be a member of and/or lead committees and teams.
• The ability to handle a large variety of tasks and information in a fast-paced environment where timely decision making from often limited data and research time is critical.
• Consistently focuses on achieving strong results, despite balancing multiple, complex demands.
• The ability to regularly identify areas that can be improved and constructively proposes new solutions that increase value and improve business performance.
• Strong analytical skills.
• The ability to operate as a strong team player and are comfortable in a matrix organization.

Qualified candidates will have:

• Bachelor’s degree or the knowledge and skills normally acquired by completing such a degree.
• At least 3 years of manufacturing experience, including experience in leading a team of direct reports.
• Knowledge/experience in using Microsoft Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and/or other software tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to present shift reports, lead meetings, and review/write SOP’s.

Ingredion provides accommodations to job applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. If a job applicant requires an accommodation during the application process or through the selection process, we will work with the applicant to meet the job applicant's accommodation needs.