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Category: Production Management

Regulatory Manager

GENERAL SUMMARY:

  • Provide leadership for the Regulatory team and the organization on regulatory matters.
  • Ensure Sun Gro is adhering to all applicable regulations in U.S., Canada, Mexico, current countries we ship to and any potential new markets.
  • Oversee the regulatory collaboration with Sun Gro R&D, Marketing, Sales, Technical, Operation/Quality, and Supply Chain teams
  • Interface with required parties to drive the company regulatory strategy

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

  • Provide appropriate leadership for the Regulatory team to ensure effective operation and function of routine tasks and objectives of the team
  • Provide regulatory insights for new product development and product improvement projects e.g.
  • Evaluate new vendor qualification process with Sun Gro cross-functional teams such as Prop65, OMRI listings, registration status, etc.
  • Establish/support product development timelines through Stage & Gate processes
  • Label development/updates
  • Manage and support site level print & apply and other label applications
  • Manage registration/renewals and tonnage reporting via team processes for all product labels. Point person for developing a process for new and discontinued products to ensure registration is current and up to date
  • Complete/manage and maintain product registration database
  • Lead management of organic program registration and requirements for state and Canada regulatory agencies such as CDFA (OIM), NOP/COR (US/CDN), OMRI, etc.
  • Manage/support all required processes/documents by USDA and CFIA Veterinary Certification program
  • Coordinate with Stage & Gate Process/Team:
  • Regulatory review and approval of all label (package) text for all retail & professional products
  • Technical aspects of state and federal registration of all products, retail and professional.
  • Manage and maintain Mulch and Soil Council certification program
  • Manage required grow tests for regulatory compliance or registration
  • Coordinate with Quality/Technical:
  • Prop65, CFIA, OMRI, OIM, NOP/COR, USDA
  • Project Management
  • Coordinate with cross-disciplinary team members to make sure that all parties are on track with project requirements, deadlines, and schedules.
  • Meet with project team members to identify and resolve issues.
  • Submit project deliverables and ensure that they adhere to regulatory standards.
  • Prepare status reports by gathering, analyzing and summarizing relevant information.
  • Establish effective project communication plans and ensuring their execution.
  • Facilitate change requests to ensure that all parties are aware of the impact on schedules and budget.
  • Conduct post project evaluations identifying successful and unsuccessful project elements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

  • Effective team leadership
  • Good public speaking skills – effective presentation skills a must.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong communication skills to represent Sun Gro and to negotiate with regulators and government sectors.
  • Strong computer skills, specific proficiency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, digital photograph, Internet and email.
  • Strong, fact based decision making skills
  • Excellent mentoring and development skills
  • Strong business process orientation
  • Understanding of R&D, Marketing, Sales, Operation, Quality, Technical and Supply Chain functions and their interactions
  • Flexibility and adaptability.
  • Ability to establish and follow plans
  • Skilled change champion
  • Strong execution skills

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Minimum BS in related field.
  • Strong network with state regulatory agencies including AAPFCO, CFIA, and OMRI knowledge is preferred.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally (primarily Canada) (4 – 6 weeks per year or about 10%)
  • Ability to work remotely in a home office setting, sitting and using office equipment, primarily telephone and computers (50/50), for extended periods of time each day:
  • On calls 30-50% per work day
  • On computer tasks 30-50% per work day
  • Ability take and maintain notes and information for reference sharing
  • Respond to inquiries from internal and external customers in a timely manner (typically with 24 hours of initial inquiry)
  • We are an equal opportunity employer.

District Sales Manager

GENERAL SUMMARY:

To plan, organize, and control the total selling effort within the assigned territory. Achieve territory sales budget objectives and plans assigned. Control and monitor sale expense budgets conforming to the expense plan guidelines. Ensure distribution objectives are attained as assigned on consistent bases for the professional horticultural product line. Establish territory, distributor, and account objectives and develop plans for their accomplishments. Manage and communicate with distributors in the territory maintaining level playing fields.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

· Responsible for delivering combined product sales of either professional peat moss and professional mixes according to approved sales and marketing plans.

· Responsible for implementing/controlling approved sales/marketing programs and procedures.

· Initiate, monitor, and recommend sales programs that are realistic and measurable as well as a timetable for accomplishment to capitalize on opportunities within the territory.

· Control territory expense budgets as assigned.

· Achieve new account and distribution objectives as assigned.

· Regularly complete field reports and maintain records of territory activities to be submitted as required.

· Records are up-to-date, accurate, neat, and readily accessible.

· Communication with your supervisor(s) about any and all factors or activities which affect your territory directly or indirectly and also various company departments.

· Participate in regional meetings to plan and analyze business activities.

· Improve business relationships with key account decision-makers by actual account calls and through trade show functions.

· Properly handles all customer requests, problems, or special situations relating to our product’s performance.

· Exercise proper care in handling all company materials and equipment so that the appearance and condition are such that it will create a favorable impression at all times.

· Help in managing any co-pack business and relationships when appropriate.

· Timely submission of sales reports & expense reports as required to meet the monthly deadline.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

· Organizational Ability – Capability to:

· Plan, organize, and monitor activities according to priorities.

· Establish schedules, deadlines, or quotas.

· Coordinate resources toward fulfillment of desired objectives.

· Develop results-oriented conclusions.

· Communications/Interpersonal Skills – Capability to:

· Listen effectively.

· Describe or explain information, concepts, ideas, or instructions to others.

· Interface effectively with customers, the public, and co-workers.

· Decision-making Ability – Capability to:

· Perceive and evaluate alternatives.

· Analyze the impact of decisions before executing them.

· Make and implement decisions compatible with organizational goals.

· Support decisions with appropriate evidence and rationale.

· The ability to make accurate assessments on market conditions and trends and convey these in a professional manner.

· Perform with absolute honesty and diplomacy managing multiple distributors in the territory.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

· Educational background in horticulture or equivalent experience gained through employment in a horticultural or similar related job.

· Adequate sales experience to perform all the necessary sales functions required.

· Professional knowledge and skills required and if in a professional sales position, a comprehensive technical background.

· Proven record of understanding and achievements in horticulture or other sales-related activities

Maintenance Manager

Sun Gro® Horticulture is one of the most prominent North American horticultural companies, employing over 800 staff and serving customers worldwide. Since its humble beginnings in 1929, it has become the leading supplier of soilless growing mixes to North America’s top 100 greenhouse and nursery growers, shipping over 70,000 truckloads of product annually. Sun Gro products are made to exacting standards and conform to high product quality and performance criteria.

We currently have an opening in Vassar, MB for a Maintenance Manager. This person will be responsible for the maintenance of all process equipment throughout the plant. Supervision and support teams to develop the continuous improvement and safety performance programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

· The function is to provide leadership to all teams, to satisfy our customers, and achieve superior business results.

· Provide Leadership in the area of Safety Performance

· Ensure that all employees work in a safe manor to support the corporate safety goals

· Ensure appropriate resources are available to all staff to achieve corporate safety goals.

· Measure, Monitor, Audit and Evaluate Safety Performance at all operations.

· Communicate the importance of health and safety to all employees, contractors and visitors.

· Design and lead long term improvement plans for the facilities

· Monitor the performance and effectiveness of all operations

· Effectively manage company assets.

· Be dedicated to employee development and succession planning principles

· Responsible for Team Development

· Understand safety with high regard to OHS and company policies

· Excel in workplace coaching skills

· Help team meet business plan goals

· Act as a coach, teacher and problem solver

· Support team in:

– Developing standard work procedures

– Developing job skills

– Apply the 4 rules of production

– Develop problem solving skills

– Look for things that are not ideal

· Monitor team performance and maintain records

· Coordinate with other teams and leadership team

· Analyze cause and effects

· To provide for optimum maintenance of plant equipment.

· To recommend and carry out approved capital projects.

· To provide management of inventories.

– Drive the LEAN manufacturing program.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

· Ability to plan, organize and monitor activities according to priorities

· Establish and meet schedules, deadlines and quotas

· Decision making skills that focus on process improvement

· Work co-operatively with cross-functional team members

· Mechanical skills and aptitude

· Work in stressful environment

· Understand safety and implement programs

· Understand LEAN manufacturing and teach/mentor team members

· Communication and writing skills

· Facilitation skills

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

– Trade background an asset

– First aid, Hazard ID, WHIMIS

– Experience in plant environment

– Supervision skills

– Computer skills – Microsoft Office, front end systems, QC systems