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The compensation range provided is in compliance with state specific laws.  Factors that may be used to determine your actual rate of pay include your specific skills, years of experience and other factors.  

BENEFITS INFORMATION:

Who We Are

Gilchrist & Soames, a division of Guest Worldwide, is a global personal care manufacturer that combines its industry leading hotel amenity manufacturing capabilities with a passion for pure and innovative bath products. We have an unwavering commitment to excellence, environmental stewardship and clean, skin-friendly formulations. For more information, visit www.gilchristsoames.com.

About Guest Worldwide

Guest Worldwide, a Sysco company, is a leading global manufacturer and distributor to the Travel and Leisure industry, providing hospitality products for more than 40 years to over 25,000 well-known hotel chains and independent properties in over 100 countries. Recently achieving 1 billion dollars in annual revenue, Guest Worldwide has grown its business by over 200% in the last 7 years. Manufacturing, distribution, and purchasing resources are strategically located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, ensuring superior product selection and availability, as well as quick and efficient response to meet virtually every need.

Guest Worldwide is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco. Sysco is a 50-billion-dollar industry leading global food and beverage distribution company, employing hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide and home to the 13th largest sales organization in the world. For more information, visit Territory Manager Verbiage

JOB SUMMARY

The Vice President (VP) of Global Manufacturing Operations will be a senior leader responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of the Manufacturing functions within Gilchrist & Soames. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President (SVP), General Manager of Gilchrist & Soames, the VP of Manufacturing Operations will be responsible for driving operational excellence, ensuring product quality, optimizing manufacturing processes, and leading teams across multiple plant locations. This individual will be a key strategic partner to the SVP, General Manager, focusing on operational performance and execution, while aligning manufacturing and procurement strategies with the overall commercial goals of the business.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership of Manufacturing Operations:

• Provide leadership and direction for all global manufacturing operations (including contract manufacturing), ensuring alignment with the company’s business objectives and growth strategies.

• Collaborate closely with the SVP, General Manager to translate the commercial vision into practical manufacturing strategies that maximize production efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality.

• Establish clear operational goals and objectives, drive continuous improvement and ensure operational performance meets or exceeds expectations.

• Oversee the procurement of raw materials and componentry necessary for direct manufacturing, ensuring manufacturing supply chain stability and timely delivery of inputs to meet production schedules. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Strategic Alignment:

• Partner with sales, marketing, and supply chain teams to ensure manufacturing operations are aligned with demand forecasts, customer expectations, and product delivery timelines.

• Collaborate with the finance team to assess investment needs, evaluate capital expenditures, and track the ROI of manufacturing initiatives.

• Act as a key voice in executive leadership meetings, providing updates on manufacturing performance, challenges, and opportunities.

Innovation and Technology Integration:

• Stay informed on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in manufacturing operations.

• Evaluate and implement innovative technologies to enhance manufacturing capabilities, improve efficiency, and reduce production costs.

• Lead the integration of new manufacturing technologies and digital tools to increase agility and competitiveness

Quality Assurance and Compliance:

• Ensure that manufacturing processes and products meet industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal quality control standards.

• Oversee the implementation of quality assurance processes to maintain product consistency and meet customer expectations.

• Liaison with domestic and international 3rd Party manufacturers to ensure all corporate standards, regulatory requirements, quality processes and controls meet expectations. This includes onsite audits, reviewing and approving new manufacturing partners, and accountability for all manufacturing partner outputs.

• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations and lead initiatives to create a safe and compliant manufacturing environment.

Financial Management and Budgeting:

• Develop and manage the manufacturing and procurement operations budget, ensuring that the division operates within financial parameters while achieving cost-reduction targets and improving overall profitability.

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess manufacturing efficiency, quality, safety, and cost effectiveness.

• Implement cost control measures and identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising on quality or safety.

Ensure that appropriate staffing levels are maintained to meet the operational demands and growth objectives of the manufacturing parts of the business.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of plant manager(s), engineer(s), and operational staff, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous development.

• Drive employee engagement initiatives to maintain a motivated workforce and ensure the retention of top talent within the manufacturing function.

Operational Excellence and Process Optimization:

• Lead efforts to improve operational efficiency by streamlining manufacturing processes, implementing lean manufacturing practices, and reducing waste.

• Oversee the deployment of technology and automation systems to enhance production capabilities and maintain competitive advantage in the market.

• Work with cross-functional teams to optimize supply chain operations and ensure the timely delivery of high-quality products.

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging Six Sigma, Lean, or other methodologies to drive operational efficiency and product quality.

Education

• Bachelor Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering or a technical degree in related discipline; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration preferred.

• Knowledge of Six Sigma, ISO 9001:2008 and KPI-driven Management Operating System

Experience

• 12+ years of experience in manufacturing management, preferably in a process-oriented operations and/or related industry.

• Global experience required.

Professional Skills

• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to mentor and develop individuals and teams.  Able to engage and lead team discussions and meetings.  Understands team dynamics and works well within a team structure.  Collaborative management style and strategic team player.  Delegates responsibilities effectively. Recognizes and acknowledges the value others bring to the organization. 

• Excellent communication (written and verbal), interpersonal and professional interactive skills.   Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from customers, management and inter-department staff.  Capable of working with others in a proactive and constructive manner.

• Well-developed strategic planning, business and financial management skills (i.e., pricing, forecasting, budget planning, etc.).  Understanding of Sysco’s key business metrics and systems – preferred.

• Strong analytical and technology skills in using productivity, performance and other related data. 

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of P&L and key components to drive and sustain positive financial results. 

• Strong presentation and negotiation skills.  

• Fact-based decision-making style and the type of senior executive who comes to the table with a pragmatic view of the marketplace and the opportunities within it, but who also recommends solutions at both a strategic and functional level.

• A mastery of organizational and project management skills, including the ability to plan, prioritize and execute multiple initiatives/deadlines autonomously and shift priorities, as necessary.  Able to manage large, complex projects.   Uses time effectively. 

• Customer Service – Responds promptly to customer needs.  Solicits customer feedback to improve service.  Responds promptly to requests for service and assistance as needed.

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner. Gathers and analyzes information skillfully. Develops alternative solutions.

• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions. Exhibits sound and accurate judgment. Makes timely decisions.

• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner. Reacts well under pressure. Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position. Accepts responsibility for own actions. Follows through on commitments.

• Proficient use of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook).

• Familiarity with Forecasting and Demand Planning and Data Mining applications.

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse and other offices/manufacturing equipment, telephone to talk and hear, and stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and balance.

• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms and may lift up to 50 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The environmental conditions in which the work is performed. The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Primarily work in a manufacturing environment.

• Travel is regularly required to visit other manufacturing facilities, office locations and distribution centers, customer meetings, company events, staff meetings, training sessions, and/or industry or vendor trade shows.

• A valid passport is required for international travel.

• May be required to utilize personal vehicle for business travel that may result in long periods of sitting.

• Must maintain a valid driver license and provide proof of current automobile insurance coverage as set forth by Sysco.

• This position is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, elevated ambient temperature, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and outside weather conditions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

• This position may require evening, weekend or other shift work depending on customer and business needs.

This job description indicates in general terms, the type and level of work performed as well as the typical responsibilities of employees in this classification. The duties described are not to be interpreted as being all-inclusive to any specific employee. Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job. Nothing in this position description changes the at-will employment relationship existing between the Company and its employees. This job description supersedes prior job descriptions.

OVERVIEW:

Sysco is the global leader in foodservice distribution. With over 71,000 colleagues and a fleet of over 13,000 vehicles, Sysco operates approximately 333 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 700,000 customer locations.

We offer our colleagues the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to contribute to the success of a dynamic organization, and to serve others in a manner that exceeds their expectations. We’re looking for talented, hard-working individuals to join our team. Come grow with us and let us show you why Sysco is at the heart of food and service.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT:

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law.

This opportunity is available through Sysco Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates.