Vice-President, Manufacturing and Engineering

At ASPIRE we are pioneers in the field of precision insect farming, optimizing the growth and harvesting of an underutilized natural resource in order to meet global demand for sustainable ingredients and materials. Our vision is A WORLD TRANSFORMED BY INSECT TECHNOLOGY.

VICE-PRESIDENT MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING

Reporting to the CEO of Aspire, the Vice-President Manufacturing and Engineering will be a key member of the company’s Executive Leadership Team and lead all Manufacturing and Engineering activities for our organization. The Vice-President of Manufacturing will participate in the development and implementation of Aspire’s business strategies, policies, and processes. The Vice President, Manufacturing and Engineering will provide the leadership and transformational change required to optimize performance and efficiency for Aspire’s manufacturing and engineering (manufacturing, supply chain, quality, CI and safety). Such optimized performance and efficiencies align with, and support, the high-growth and financial performance objectives of Aspire. The candidate will provide the leadership and environment required for the development and support of high-performance individuals and teams across the organization.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MATTER

• Promote a Health and Safety, Food Safety and GMP Culture by adhering to company standards at all times. 

• Provide professional leadership and management across all components of Aspire’s Manufacturing Operations to ensure world class standards of performance, efficiency, regulatory compliance, safety and quality to support the achievement of our aggressive growth plans and financial objectives.

• Provide and implement specific programs to optimize the manufacturing base to best serve the needs of the business with the objectives of increased efficiencies, improved cost position, high levels of quality, customer satisfaction and employee safety.

• Develop and lead implementation of Aspire’s manufacturing and engineering plans and programs to drive consistently high levels of performance by all key individuals and teams across the organization.

• Champion and lead Aspire’s lean culture, ensuring appropriate lean manufacturing and initiatives, superior 5S housekeeping, continuous improvement and best practices are embedded in all plans and programs. 

• Develop the capital strategy for the organization in line with our business plans and objectives and oversee the execution in collaboration with the CEO, CFO and other peers.

• Lead the design and implementation of future manufacturing facilities with the potential of being a key stakeholder in the construction management of these facilities.

• Manage, train, mentor and support the optimized performance of the direct report team.

• Optimize the organizational chart and fully staff all key manufacturing and engineering functions essential to successful execution of KPIs and targets.

• Continuously review operating results of all components of Aspire on a periodic basis, while mentoring and obtaining appropriate input from direct reports and members of their teams.

• Dive deep to create process rigor around daily management, standard work and continuous improvement.

• Create and foster a high-performance culture of diversity, equity and inclusion across the organization as well as drive hourly employee engagement.

• Other related duties and required or assigned.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

• Undergraduate degree in Engineering, or related field (advanced degree preferred.)

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility in complex automated manufacturing environments and industry. Minimum of 5 years of senior leadership experience.  Experience in vertical farming industries and/or food production is strongly preferred.

• Experience budgeting, financial analysis, and cost control practices.

• Successful experience in commissioning and ramping up production in greenfield manufacturing environments preferred.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and demonstrated successful ability to build positive partnerships, while working collaboratively with cross functional business teams.

• Must have documented proficiency in creating and nurturing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement environments with documented experience driving best practices, continuous improvement, and all contemporary initiatives appropriate to both manufacturing and supply chain management.

• As a member of Aspire’s Executive Leadership Team, this individual must have prior experience of participating in the critical issues of the business, including the financial issues impacting the business.

• Demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, including the ability to develop high performance leaders and teams dedicated to excellence and best practices appropriate to all functional areas of manufacturing and engineering.

GET EXCITED ABOUT ASPIRE

• Aspire has assembled the largest body of research on cricket biology and production in the world.

• We are pioneering the industry by customizing, synthesizing and integrating cutting-edge technologies, including an Advanced Automation ASRS, IoT-Enabled Data Accumulation, Artificial Intelligence and Selective Breeding and Biological Optimization processes.

• We offer a competitive compensation package that includes paid time off, medical benefits, Maternity/Parental leave top-up, STD/LTD, RRSP and Stock Option plans.

Aspire welcomes all applicants and is committed to a diverse workforce. If you require accommodation, please advise the Human Resources Department of any required accommodation needs.


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