AmeriQual Foods - Business Unit Director
AmeriQual Group, LLCJob purpose The Business Unit Director (Value Stream Leader) has end-to-end accountability for the performance of an assigned value stream, from raw material receipt through finished product production and handoff to distribution. The position leads the value stream as a business unit, with responsibility for safety, food safety, quality, delivery, cost, people, customer performance, and continuous improvement. The role aligns cross-functional resources, develops organizational capability, and drives execution of the AmeriQual Operating System (AOS). Duties and Responsibilities Provide strategic and operational leadership for the assigned value stream and serve as the single point of accountability for results. Own performance across safety, quality, service, delivery, cost, productivity, throughput, and people metrics. Develop and execute annual operating plans, budgets, staffing strategies, and improvement priorities aligned with company objectives. Lead daily management, visual performance reviews, escalation processes, root-cause problem solving, and corrective action follow-through. Drive implementation and sustainment of AOS, Lean manufacturing, standard work, waste elimination, flow, and continuous improvement practices. Coordinate Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Planning, Supply Chain, Human Resources, Finance, and Technical Services support for the value stream. Improve labor and material utilization, equipment performance, operating cost, capacity, yield, schedule attainment, and customer service. Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to reduce downtime, improve reliability, prioritize capital needs, and remove operational constraints. Ensure compliance with company policies and applicable employee safety, food safety, quality, customer, and regulatory requirements. Lead, coach, and develop value stream leaders and team members; strengthen accountability, engagement, succession readiness, and problem-solving capability. Build a culture of ownership, teamwork, respect, transparency, disciplined execution, and continuous learning. Support new products, business growth, demand changes, and cross-functional initiatives affecting the value stream. Qualifications/Requirements Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred. Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing experience, including at least 5 years leading managers and large cross-functional teams; food or consumer products manufacturing experience preferred. Demonstrated experience with Lean manufacturing, Toyota Production System principles, operational excellence, or a comparable continuous improvement system. Strong financial and business acumen, including experience with budgets, operating plans, cost management, performance metrics, and capital justification. Proven ability to lead organizational change, develop people, solve complex operating problems, and influence across functions. Excellent communication, decision-making, analytical, coaching, and execution skills. Physical requirements This job operates in an office environment but may require exposure to manufacturing plant conditions. While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand; Some bending, reaching, and lifting may be required. Position will frequent the production floor, so operating in standard seasonal warehouse and food processing plant temperature conditions will be required. Work is completed in a facility where nuts, fruits and other allergens are present.