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Process Operations Manager
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Process Operations Manager
Making Better Happen
Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.
From our success in Scandinavia, we've grown into the world's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4000 people all across the globe.
We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it's not just food - we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.
Every one of us works towards our shared purpose: Making Better Happen™.
Everything we do is about Making Better Happen together.
Join nearly 4,000 like-minded colleagues globally and build a better future with us.
Build a better future as a Process Operations Manager in Louisville, KY
Compensation Range: $116,370 - $193,950
Possible Bonus: 10%
AAK Louisville
About the role
The Process Operations Manager leads and directs all production activities for the raw materials, refinery, bleaching, hydrogenation, interesterification, and deodorization departments, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing of fats and vegetable oils. This position is responsible for coordinating personnel, managing process performance, promoting continuous improvement, and ensuring compliance with customer and regulatory requirements.
Responsibilities
- Oversee daily operations and production scheduling across all departments under responsibility, ensuring alignment with demand, output, and customer specifications.
- Direct maintenance activities, both preventative and corrective, working with engineering for capital and process improvement projects.
- Ensure strict adherence to SOPs and quality standards in every process area, from raw materials and bleaching to hydrogenation, Interesterification, and deodorization
- Customer Service Oversight- Collaborate with customer service teams to resolve issues and improve service delivery. Ensure operations support a positive customer experience
- Team Leadership & Development – Hire, train, and mentor Plant staff, promoting a best-in-class workplace culture that is aligned with AAK’s guiding pillars and better behaviors. Oversee staff scheduling, performance evaluations, and professional development.
- Maintain open and consistent communication with teams regarding performance, improvement opportunities, and company goals.
- Participate actively in safety, food safety, and continuous improvement committees, audits, and operational reviews
Continuous Improvement & Cost Control
- Lead and monitor efforts to improve safety, efficiency, product quality, utility usage, and cost across all processes.
- Analyze and report key metrics, identify opportunities, and implement improvements to reduce waste, rework, and production cost per pound.
- Cost Leadership- Prepare and manage departmental budgets, ensuring cost-effective resource allocation; Track expenses and identify opportunities for cost savings without compromising quality
- Collaborate with purchasing, vendors, and technical teams to optimize process efficiency
5S & TPM Goals
- Implement 5S Standards: Lead the implementation and sustainability 5S and TPM throughout all production areas. Perform regular audits, address gaps, and engage team members to maintain clean, safe, and efficient workspaces.
- Champion TPM Practices: Drive Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives, including autonomous maintenance, planned maintenance schedules, and root cause analysis for chronic reliability issues. Empower production operators and technicians to take ownership of routine equipment care and participate in continuous improvement teams.
- Monitor and Report Key Metrics: Track 5S audit scores, OEE, downtime, PM compliance, and improvement activities to ensure TPM and 5S objectives are met and sustained.
- Foster Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Encourage open communication and teamwork between departments, utilizing 5S and TPM practices to improve reliability, safety, quality, and overall plant performance.
- Model and enforce a proactive safety culture, maintaining strict compliance with safety procedures and regulations.
- Monitor and correct safety risks, lead investigations, and ensure contractor safety during projects and daily operations.
- Communicate effectively with the Environmental and Safety Manager to address compliance issues promptly.
About you
- 10+ years of experience in operations management or a related role in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
- Proven leadership skills with experience managing frontline operations teams.
- Strong knowledge of production processes, safety regulations, and quality standards.
- Experience with continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and TPM is highly desirable.
- Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively across multiple functions and manage change effectively.
- Strong analytical skills with experience using operational data and KPIs to drive decisions.
- Knowledge of regulatory compliance (OSHA, environmental regulations) and industry best practices.
- Ability to manage budgets and resources efficiently
In return AAK offer
Career paths, training and development, e-learning and tuition reimbursement programs offer potential for you to progress your future career
Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental and vision) starting date of hire
Health Savings Account with AAK annual contribution of $1,000-$1,500
We match 100% of the first 3% you contribute to your 401(k), and 50% of the next 3%
Free Life and Disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection and Legal Insurance Plans
Discounts on travel, amusement parks, concerts, movies, and more
Celebrations, events, and activities on site and supporting our communities
Recognition incentives for service and peer to peer recognition
About AAK
Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.
AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.
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