Senior Process Engineering Manager

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you'll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman's, and Pangburn's have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let's continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life...

As the Senior Process Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for establishing and optimizing both new and existing production processes to enhance product quality, improve efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory standards.

You will also drive improvement initiatives and play a critical role in supporting the selection, installation, and commissioning of new equipment, ensuring seamless integration into existing operations and maximizing performance from day one.

What you will be doing...

• Analyze and improve manufacturing processes to increase throughput, reduce variability, and enhance product consistency.
• Provide technical support throughout the design, installation, startup, and validation of new equipment. Ensure key process parameters are identified, measured, and integrated into system design, and successfully transitioned to operations during equipment handoff.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Production, Industrial Performance, Maintenance, Quality, and R&D-to identify and implement process enhancements.
• Troubleshoot process issues and implement corrective actions to minimize downtime and waste.
• Develop and update critical operating parameters (COPs) as well as control points and standard operating procedures (SOPs), process documentation, and training materials.
• Ensure all processes comply with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

If visiting our manufacturing plants, you will be expected to:

• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant's food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities.
• Actively contributes to the continuous improvement of the company's Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes?

(Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Food Science, or a related field or equivalent years of experience.
• 7+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience with process optimization and equipment commissioning.
• Proven track record of leading process improvement initiatives and commissioning new equipment.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead a cross-functional team.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, automation systems, and process control strategies.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement tools.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.

Do you stand above the rest?

(Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience with chocolate or confectionery manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and other food safety standards.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and process simulation software.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don't just accept difference - we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.

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