Conversion Manager
Yakima, WA - USA
Job Summary
POSITION PURPOSE
The Conversion Manager is responsible for the full management and performance of the Conversion Department which includes Conversion Flexographic Printing Security and Rewind. This position oversees all manufacturing activities within these areas ensuring customer requirements are met while maintaining high standards for safety quality food safety cost control and employee engagement. The Conversion Manager directs supervisors leads operators and support personnel and works closely with Production Planning Maintenance Quality Engineering Training and Human Resources to achieve plant objectives.
A reasonable estimate of the current range is $00 performance based bonus benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range individual pay is determined by job-related skills experience and relevant education or training. At Novolex it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.
The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match comprehensive medical dental and vision insurance flexible spending and health savings accounts paid vacation and sick days free onsite clinic paid parental leave paid holidays and wellness program.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND BASIC DUTIES
FUNCTIONS:
Communicate and work under direction of Operations or Plant Manager to meet production and quality expectations in Conversion Flexographic Printing Security and Rewind. This position is backed up by a Conversion Supervisor or other management when needed.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
a. Communicates safety policies procedures and practices
- Ensure department personnel have completed Novolex safety training on time
- Ensure department personnel follow all safety standards
- Ensure department accident investigations and communications with Plant Manager Operations Manager Human Resources Manager and Safety Manager and others as assigned.
b. Communicates food safety and consumer safety policies procedures and practices
- Ensure employees are empowered and encouraged to take the correct actions and report events that could impact food safety of the product.
- Encourage a strong food safety culture and participate in GMP and food safety training and holds team responsible to follow all GMP policies.
c. Participate in audits corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives
d. Communicate with all levels of the organization
e. Operational leadership
- Manage daily operations of Conversion Flexographic Printing Rewind and Security departments
- Ensure production schedules are achieved while meeting quality and customer service requirements
- Monitor production performance using key metrics including:
1. Throughput
2. Waste and scrap
3. OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
4. Changeover times
5. Labor efficiency
6. Downtime
7. Coordinate staffing and resources to meet production demands
8. Lead daily production meetings and communicate plant priorities
f. People leadership
- Lead coach and develop supervisors and production teams
- Conduct performance evaluations and development planning
- Assist with hiring onboarding training and succession planning
- Drive employee engagement and accountability
- Foster a culture of teamwork respect and continuous improvement
g. Continuous Improvement
- Lead Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives
- Identify opportunities to improve productivity quality and cost performance
- Utilize root-cause analysis and structured problem-solving methodologies
- Support capital projects and equipment upgrades
h. Financial Responsibility
- Manage departmental labor and operating budgets.
- Control manufacturing costs through waste reduction and process improvements
- Monitor material usage variance (MUV) and other cost metrics
- Support annual budgeting and forecasting activities
i. Perform other duties required by management as necessary
Company policies procedures and practices are implemented via this position. Quality of products is directly related to the effectiveness of individuals in this job. A broad base of current technical knowledge is required to ensure that standards are met and efficiencies are maintained. Problem solving and decision-making abilities are essential for success.
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION:
- Bachelors degree in manufacturing engineering business or related field preferred
- 5 years of manufacturing leadership experience
- 3 years of managing production teams
- Experience in one or more of the following:
- Flexographic printing
- Film conversion
- Rewind operations
- Bag making
- Flexible packaging manufacturing
- Experience with continuous improvement methodologies preferred
- Must have experience handling deadlines scheduling and prioritization
- Strong leadership and coaching skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Strategic and operational decision making
- Conflict resolution and employee relations skills
- Strong organizational and planning capabilities
- Mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting ability
- Data analysis and KPI management
- Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP) and Microsoft Office applications
Required Experience:
Manager
About Company
We are Packaging a Better Future. We strive to be the best at what we do and our demand for excellence is who we are. As a market leader, we are a trusted partner to major global brands and create innovative products used more than 5 billion times each week.