Running with Sasquatch is more than just a clever marketing campaign. As a Jack Link’s team member, Running with Sasquatch means we roll up our buffalo plaid sleeves and do the hard work first. We don’t shy away from challenges. In fact, we push hard and take risks. True to our North Woods roots, we're a bunch of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things by driving results with innovation, creativity and a clear sense of urgency. Like our awesome protein products, we have an unwavering passion for quality, and you won’t find anything artificial here. What you see is what you get… authentic, humble and fun people who Run with Sasquatch!

Running with Sasquatch takes a team. We invite you to run with us, succeed with us, and celebrate with us. Most importantly, Feed Your Wild Side with us on our journey to be the dominant global leader of branded protein snacks!

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Still family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates a total of 11 manufacturing and distribution facilities in four countries. Jack Link’s produces high-quality, great-tasting protein snacks that feed the wild sides of consumers around the world. Jack Link's Protein Snacks family of brands includes Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, World Kitchens Jerky, Bifi and Pepperami.

Working with the President, CEO, peer senior executive team and functional subordinates, the EVP of Supply Chain and Operations will develop and drive the Supply Chain and Operations agenda aligned to the strategic goals of the overall enterprise. The role of the EVP is broad and spans all functional areas within both Supply Chain and Operations, thus requiring a mix of strategic, operational, and consultative skills to deliver continuous improvement in cost reduction, quality, customer service and safety. The individual shall have significant experience in providing leadership at the broader business level, as well as a deep knowledge of SCOPS (both strategic and functional), with the ability to implement programs in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.  The successful candidate will need to bring a minimum of 20 years of business experience, including demonstrated success serving in profit and loss assignments spanning multiple business/product lines in a public or private company.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, communicate and implement the strategic vision for the supply chain and operations organization with the goal of developing an integrated supply chain that enables and sustains top-line revenue growth while achieving year-over-year operational efficiencies.
• Drive overall operational excellence through the application of "best in class" lean practices and processes across all global manufacturing sites.
• Planning, in partnership with Sales and Marketing in particular, to ensure alignment between plant production capacity/schedule/capabilities and customer needs.
• Continually assess utilization of global plant assets to ensure optimization of the global manufacturing footprint and plant capabilities.
• Responsible for overall order fulfillment operations to meet customer service (on-time deliveries and in-full attainment) level requirements, while driving efficient supply chain practices and minimizing investments in inventory. Build a strong link between demand forecasting, production planning and inventory management.
• Aggressively reduce Conversion Costs by developing, executing and tracking a robust list of initiatives that reduce labor and waste in the manufacturing facilities and distribution centers.
• Develop and execute an overall framework able to significantly reduce employee turnover rates.
• Develop and execute a strategic and tactical approach to purchasing materials, particularly meat, at below ‘market’ rates.
• Identify, communicate and track key operational metrics that directly link to results in the P&L.
• Drive a culture that’s passionate about producing the highest quality product every day, and has the tools and processes in place to measure customer satisfaction.
• Drive a culture that cares deeply about employee safety, and has the knowledge and awareness to proactively identify and address potential issues.
• Lead by influence in business unit daily operations, assuring that customer expectations are consistently satisfied, that products and services always meet the quality specifications and that all resources are fully utilized to provide cost-effective products and service.
• Develop and implement strategic business and operational plans that support the business objectives.  Research, develop and implement operating policies and practices that fully support these objectives.
• Address key business performance challenges.  This role will identify and prioritize these challenges based on root cause identification within key areas of the supply chain and operations.
• Identify and effectively present viable solutions and options for operational issues that impact overall company performance to the executive team, and then champion the process to address these issues.
• Conduct quarterly on-location scorecard performance reviews.  These reviews will focus on lean planning, effectiveness of production execution, and resources needed to support progress.
• Build a strong operations talent base and leadership bench.  Develop talent development plans to support short and long-range business plans.
• Establish credibility throughout the organization with management and employees in order to be an effective leader, listener, and problem solver of people issues.
• Develop and manage SCOPS Budget and other financial measures of the department.
   

DESIRED OUTCOMES

• Development of a broad multi-year strategy and capital plan designed to support the aggressive growth strategy of the broader business.
• Establishment of a robust S&OP process that will drive reduced waste, lower inventory levels and improved buying efficiencies.
• In partnership with senior leaders, address SKU proliferations to reduce the product mix while improving costs and productivity.
• Build a leadership team that will drive improved employee engagement and accountability, reducing turnover levels across the organization.
• In addition to improved planning and procurement, establish robust continuous improvement processes that reduce conversion costs by 10 – 15 percent.

The successful candidate will be a senior executive with deep and broad experience within the food or broader consumer products industry. This individual will have worked within a generally acknowledged top tier supply chain organization and will have demonstrated the ability to consistently deliver results. The ideal candidate will have a broad operational base with hands-on roles in plant management, with subsequent experience across multiple areas of the supply chain.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE
Twenty years of manufacturing and supply chain experience, trained in a blue chip consumer food or consumer packaged goods company, managing a large and complex supply chain and operations network.  Subsequent experience gained in a smaller, more entrepreneurial environment considered ideal.

Demonstrated track record of successfully leading multiple aspects of a supply chain organization within a high volume environment: demand and production planning, purchasing, manufacturing, distribution/warehousing, operational excellence/CI, inventory planning, customer service, engineering, capital improvements, quality, safety and regulatory.

• Route up manufacturing with experience managing multiple sites.
• Firsthand knowledge of implementing continuous improvement methodologies such as LEAN/Six Sigma.
• Demonstrated experience deploying automation to drive productivity.
• International market experience/exposure considered ideal.
• Bachelor’s Degree in business, operations, materials management, logistics or related field.  MBA preferred
• APICS or equivalent Supply Chain certification preferred.

CRITICAL LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES 

• Driving Results:  To be successful in this role, the chosen candidate must exhibit professional and managerial skills in a complex and dynamic manufacturing and sales organization along with the leadership traits and personal characteristics that are necessary for success in senior management. Additionally, a track record of inspiring trust and confidence in subordinates (and peers) to achieve the highest standards of performance in a dynamic environment of business integration is also required.
• Communication: Highly articulate and must be able to convey points in a clear and highly compelling manner to the CEO, board members, senior corporate leaders, customers, employees.
• Judgment:  Track record of making decisions that balance a variety of factors (e.g. cost, risk, short term vs. long term impact) to achieve optimal outcome. Ability to base decisions on core values and principles to achieve an optimal outcome is essential.
• Business Acumen: Demonstrated ability to grasp key business drivers in the industry, identify new areas of value for the company, and effectively lead others to pursue these new opportunities. This position needs to work closely with all business unit leaders and partners to help them manage and grow the businesses.
• Industry Knowledge: A deep and broad understanding of all facets of supply chain and operations, as well as the customer and industry landscape. International experiences as well as financial leadership in a multi-geography business are required.

OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• ​​Enjoy spending time in plants and engaging workers in discussions about opportunities to improve.  See the plant floor as a valued resource.
• Enjoy being a ‘hands-on leader’.  Be willing to roll up their sleeves and get into the details to support the team and their development.
• Effectively lead and communicate a quality, safety and reliability culture.
• Highly collaborative leader with experience working with peers across multiple areas of the business.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

E-Verify
We provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. IMPORTANT: If the Government cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, we are required to provide you written instructions and an opportunity to contact SSA and/or DHS before taking adverse action against you, including terminating your employment. We may not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or to re-verify current employees and may not limit or influence the choice of documents presented for use on the Form I-9. In order to determine whether Form I-9 documentation is valid, we use E-Verify’s photo screening tool to match the photograph appearing on some permanent resident and employment authorization cards with the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) photograph. If you believe that your employer has violated its responsibilities under this program or has discriminated against you during the verification process based upon your national origin or citizenship status, please call the Office of Special Counsel at 1-800-255-7688 (TDD: 1-800-237-2515).