Pilot Plant Operations Coordinator

Job Location: Hershey, PA

Summary:

Reporting to the Pilot Plant Manager and working at the Technical Center. This position has the primary responsibility to Pilot Plant and Semiworks Operations by supporting saleable production projects, the Traceability Program, and some focus on administrative support. The role will be responsible for coordination and production support of Tech Center Operations, the Pilot Plant, Semiworks and its customers. This involves organizing and maintaining pre and post operations checklists, production schedules, and communications of the facilities, facility equipment, and materials.  Will serve as the backup to the Pilot Plant Coordinator – responsible for the coordination of the Tech Center Traceability Program, data entry, coordinating and performing in-house trainings, and maintenance of the Tech Center Traceability Program.

Main Responsibilities:

TC Pilot Plant Production coordination:

• Work with project leaders to go over the pre-operations checklist. Ensuring projects have proper equipment, tools, PPE, and demonstrate proper GMP.
• Daily communication with project leaders to ensure production is going as scheduled and develop a plan for project completion.
• Work with project leaders to go over the post-operations checklist. Ensuring proper shutdown procedures are followed. Ensure the proper level of clean up and disposition of tools and utensils is completed.
• Work with Pilot Plant customers to ensure all safety and quality processes of projects are followed by performing checks of equipment and location, and documenting status. Report and irregularities to the proper department.
• Responsible for addressing facility issues/requirements/changes as they arise by communicating them with the facilities team and Pilot Plant Manager.
• Provide safety and environmental support to the Plant Manager; this includes enforcing safety programs.
• Coordinate Shipping and BOL creations for finished product.

Back-up and assist the Pilot Plant Coordinator:

• Track Pilot Plant requests and compliance. Daily review of Traceability Program to coordinate the scheduling of projects, locations, and equipment to ensure most efficient use of Pilot Plant and Tech Center resources. Ensure users comply with data entry. Make sure projects adhere to Hershey’s quality and safety standards.
• Direct communication with involved parties to resolve conflicts of equipment or locations. Bring parties together to address challenges. Determine all available options. Make final determination on applicable path forward.
• Performs onboarding, orientation, training, and support for the hourly and salaried workforce for our Tech Center Traceability Program as necessary. Support proper project staffing through our temp worker request system.
• Coordinates the streamlining of the Traceability Program for efficiency and bug fixes. This is performed over a one-month period with daily sessions with the program vendor to review issues, solutions, innovations, and progress.
• Organize agenda and direct the weekly manufacturing meeting to review, adjust, approve, or deny projects presented.

Pilot Plant Operations Support:

• Pilot Plant communications, including assisting with the development and dissemination of information and communications.
• Support Dock operations by assisting in receiving small package items and palletized freight by offloading delivery vehicles, checking all packages and pallets for both visible and hidden damage, notating all damages and informing the carrier, verifying proper destination and total count of packages before signing for packages and pallets. Receives hazardous materials in a safe manner according to set policies. Detailed and accurate record keeping of all items received on the dock. Fill out the receiving Log for all shipments. Other duties as needed.
• Provides administrative support to the Pilot Plant Manager, Pilot Plant Operations team, Engineering, and customers. Periodically act as a staff representative in meetings with internal customers.
• Record and document training procedures and materials. Utilize camera and other video recording devices to record equipment operating procedures for the purpose of knowledge retention. Prepare written training materials of equipment.
• Support Tech Center Training Program initiatives. Integrate training program documentation into the Traceability program. Assist in the creation of training program documents.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

• Planning and organizational skills
• Analytical skills
• Ability to handle conflict and confidential matters
• Attention to detail
• Ability to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner with less than normal supervision.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and kneel in the process of performing all job responsibilities.
• Knowledge of employee safety, OSHA regulations, sanitation, GMP, QA guidelines and policies, and standards a plus.
• Knowledge of products and processes associated with food manufacturing.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially the ability to work well with and relate to others within the department and at different levels within the organization. This includes various levels of internal and external people.
• Excellent computer skills, including the ability to use databases, SAP, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook Software. SharePoint and PowerApps experience a plus.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Associates/bachelor’s degree (or in process of obtaining) in Supply Chain / Business or related field preferred. 
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in Manufacturing Operations-related role preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of administrative experience preferred.