EXECUTIVE VP OF OPERATIONS

AMPI owns six Midwest-based manufacturing plants where 10 percent of the nation's American-type cheese and processed cheese is produced. The cooperative's award-winning cheese and powdered dairy products are marketed to foodservice, retail and food ingredient customers. In 2019, the co-op launched its Dinner Bell Creamery brand and accompanying Co-op Crafted promise, highlighting more than 50 years of dairy farm families partnering with skilled cheesemakers.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time:

1. Lead and align plant operations, engineering, and quality assurance to deliver safe, efficient, and scalable operations in support of organizational strategy.
2. Own operational P&L accountability, driving cost structure optimization, margin improvement, and disciplined capital deployment in support of enterprise financial performance.
3. Collaborate with finance to establish and enforce budget ownership and accountability across operations, aligning resource allocation, capital investments, and spending priorities with enterprise strategy and financial goals.
4. Drive operational excellence through data-driven analysis, continuous improvement, and the implementation of standardized processes and performance metrics across all facilities.
5. Develop and execute strategic initiatives that support growth, including plant startups, expansions, and capacity scaling.
6. Provide executive leadership to Quality Assurance, establishing enterprise-wide standards, ensuring regulatory compliance, and advancing quality systems.
7. Provide executive leadership to Engineering, leading capital planning, cash flow outlays, facility optimization, and the adoption of advanced technologies to improve efficiency and reliability.
8. Develop and oversee enterprise project execution by establishing clear priorities, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring disciplined implementation of key initiatives.
9. Resolve complex operational challenges through structured problem-solving, leveraging data and cross-functional collaboration.
10. Foster a high-performance, continuous improvement culture grounded in accountability, safety, quality, and teamwork.
11. Monitor industry trends and emerging technologies to ensure operational capabilities remain competitive and aligned with long-term strategy.
12. Communicate effectively with executive leadership, members, and the board of directors on operational performance, risks, and opportunities.
13. Build organizational capability by leading, mentoring, and developing leadership talent and succession pipelines across operations, engineering, and quality.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. The above list reflects the general details necessary to describe the principle and essential functions of the position and shall not be construed as the only duties that may be assigned for the position.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in food science, manufacturing or related field.
• Ten years of senior leadership experience in dairy, food production, manufacturing, industrial process and operations required.
• Technical knowledge of fluid milk, cheese and drying operations preferred.
• Maintain a valid drivers' license and must be able to travel.

BENEFITS/REWARDS

AMPI offers competitive starting pay, PTO, 401k, short-term disability, health, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, employee assistance programs and more.

Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Military and veterans are encouraged to apply.