Director Engineering

Job Summary:

SunOpta is seeking a Director of Engineering to lead and enhance our engineering and technical operations across our network of seven production plants. This role is instrumental in driving innovation, optimizing production processes, and enhancing the overall efficiency and sustainability of our operations.ors: Passion, Dedication, Speed, Entrepreneurship, Customer-Centricity, and Problem-Solver, to help create a brighter, healthier, and sustainable future of food!

Reporting directly to the VP of Manufacturing, the Director of Engineering will be responsible for setting engineering strategies, overseeing capital projects, and implementing best-in-class manufacturing and technical capabilities and practices that align with SunOpta's mission to deliver high-quality, plant-based products sustainably.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Leadership & Strategy: Develop and implement a comprehensive engineering strategy that supports operational excellence across all seven plants. Provide direction and guidance to plant-level engineering teams, fostering a collaborative network-wide approach.
• Capital Project Management: Lead, plan, and execute major capital projects to support growth and efficiency goals, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive a culture of continuous improvement by identifying, developing, and implementing process improvements and automation initiatives. Champion Lean and Six Sigma practices to maximize productivity and reduce waste. Lead the manufacturing risk assessment effort and direct the creation and update of Process Failure Modes Effects and Analysis (PFMEA). Practice and train team members on Lean Manufacturing tools (process mapping, demand flow technology, product Poka Yoke, etc). Partnership with our CI/Ops Transformation/Quality/ & PMO teams, playing a key leadership role in our Ops Transformation.
• Technical Support & Troubleshooting: Serve as the top engineering resource across the network for addressing complex technical challenges, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring all equipment and processes meet SunOpta's quality and safety standards.
• Sustainability & Compliance: Collaborate with sustainability and regulatory teams to ensure all engineering initiatives support SunOpta's sustainability goals. Ensure all projects and processes adhere to relevant health, safety, and environmental regulations.
• Team Development:
  
  
  
  • Hire, train, supervise, mentor and develop geographically dispersed plant engineering teams, fostering talent growth and cross-functional collaboration to build a cohesive, collaborative and innovative engineering function across the organization.
  • Works with leadership and HR to ensure effective organizational design and that roles are correctly organized, defined, documented, and communicated to all employees.
  
  
  
  
• Outside Contractor Leadership:
  
  
  
  • May direct/oversee contracted projects to ensure adherence to specifications.
  • May obtain bids for additional work from outside contractors, purchase building & maintenance supplies, machinery, equipment, procure utilities or operations of utility systems.
  • May prepare construction specifications or plans, obtain advice from engineering consultants, assemble and analyze contract bids, and submit bids and recommendations to superiors for action.
  
  
  
  
• Ensures effective safety procedures, tools and record keeping are managed through site leadership.
• Adheres/ensures team's adherence to company GMP's (good manufacturing practices), safety procedures and all other quality processes.
• Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.
• All other duties, as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Responsible for leading through influence and program and technical capability/mentoring/coaching with in-direct reports across the network and may give performance/potential feedback on the following roles:
  
  
  
  • In-direct reports - Plant, Project, Controls, Processing, Packaging Engineers for/located at aseptic and fruit snack plants and may direct contracted projects/outside contractors.
  
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's of Engineering degree - Mechanical, Chemical, or Industrial or related Technology discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in engineering, with at least 5 years in leadership.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading / managing capital projects & leading continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience within the food/beverage production or plant-based product sectors.
• Experience leading a team of engineers, particularly those that are geographically dispersed.
• Proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma or other process improvement methodologies.
• Proficiency using & mentoring on DFM, FMEA, SPC tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aseptic, beverage, or thermal processing experience.
• Master's in Engineering - Mechanical, Industrial, Technology or comparable.
• Experience working across multiple-plants or network-wide capacity.
• Familiarity with sustainability practices in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally and influence across multiple levels of the organization.
• Certified Professional Engineer.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Candidate must possess a strong working knowledge of electrical, chemical and mechanical functions/engineering.
• Deep experience working with the following toolsets:
  
  
  
  • DFM (Design for Manufacturability)
  • FMEA (Failure Mode & Effects Analysis)
  • SPC (Statistical Process Control)
  
  
  
  
• Project leadership:
  
  
  
  • Ability to manage/oversee/lead multiple projects concurrently.
  • Gantt charts & MS Project
  
  
  
  
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing practices or TPM.
• Familiar with pasteurizers, evaporators, heat exchangers, blenders, decanters, etc.
• Knowledge of food safety practices.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Possess a continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to create momentum and foster organizational change.
• Must have a working knowledge of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint software.

Additional Considerations:

• This role requires flexibility to travel to SunOpta plant locations as needed, providing hands-on leadership and support across our network. Travel Expectation: 25-50%.
• This position will be at our SunOpta headquarters facility in Eden Prairie, MN or based out of our Midlothian, TX plant.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:

• Approximately 50% of work is performed in an office environment. 50% of work may involve being in a manufacturing environment.
• Travel via airplane and car.
• Wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when required.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED

• Eden Prairie Office, 7078 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States of America
• Midlothian Facility, 4126 Power Way, Midlothian, Texas, United States of America