Create Alert

Apply now »

For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the United States. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of nearly 9,000 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 20 popular brands like Brach’s®, NERDS®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, and Trolli® to more than 66 million U.S. households annually and popular Dori snacking products under brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100 in Brazil. Additionally, Jelly Belly, known world-wide for its confections, was acquired in November of 2023.

General Manager - Thailand

Job Location: Rayong

Want to make an impact?

The General Manager (GM) is a hands-on leadership position that manages all facility operations with overall responsibilities for team, production, maintenance, facilities, and safety. The GM is a critical component of the leadership team, ensuring that our plant operations deliver safe, high quality products efficiently. The candidate is a proven leader, team player, and is focused on people development, safety, quality, efficiencies, TPM methodologies, Lean mindset, and delivers solid financial performance for the facility. Challenging and rewarding opportunity for the operations professional who understands that in this role 95%+ of the plant team reports indirectly up to this leader and they will be ultimately responsible for total plant performance.

This position reports to the Jelly Belly CEO and Ferrara’s Chief Manufacturing Officer and will have primary responsibility for certain managerial duties pertaining to Jelly Belly Candy Company (Thailand), Ltd. The role is based in Thailand and will have responsibility for the primary and secondary sites.

The campus is located in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate of Rayong.

Ways you will make a difference

The following responsibilities are representative but not exhaustive of what is expected of the General Manager:

Manage facility production, packaging, and storage of quality food products including: food safety, quality, employee and asset safety, and operational efficiencies
Directly manage and develop Production, Maintenance, and Sanitation Managers, providing developmental, coaching, and mentoring opportunities
When appropriate act as a Change Agent, promoting the Ferrara vision, operating principles, and drive the path to manufacturing and team excellence
Drive adherence of all safety guidelines and always work tirelessly to provide a safe work environment for all employees
Champion continuous improvement and TPM methodologies along with a Lean mindset across the facility and train/support Managers and Supervisors as necessary
Manage daily and long-term production activities to meet or exceed budgeted production goals and drive optimum equipment efficiency and productivity
Determine appropriate actions with respect to acting with agility to changing business needs resulting from manpower or material changes and strategically formulate appropriate action plans
Create an empowered culture to ensure that organization and its people understand the goals and objectives of the business and that they have the resources and leadership support to accomplish them. Provide an environment which ensures and provides for open and healthy communications.
Manage monthly plant reviews and management report-outs to accurately report: operational efficiency, financial performance, human resources activities, quality, successes, improvement plans, and safety.
Participate in Town Hall and employee events to improve team unity, involvement, motivation, and retention
Coordinate plant activities with support from food safety and quality, procurement, warehouse operations, and other departmental functions to ensure the total manufacturing objectives are accomplished in a timely and cost-effective manner. Success is defined as no food safety or quality issues, zero accidents, and an overall cost-effective operation.
Guide the plant floor data standardization, collection, utilization and management to drive continuous improvement
Assist management and supervisory team in preparation and execution of customer and regulatory audits. Encourage a plant environment that is always audit ready.
Implement effective systems and strategies of cost control over capital, operating expenditures, hourly wages, and salaries
Core to this role is the management of scheduling and staffing for the plant to ensure optimal use of personnel while managing overtime costs
Oversee production planning to ensure efficient schedules are delivered that drive lowest cost and met customer demands
Establish and monitor overall plant performance for production and quality standards including compliance with established HACCP, BRC and GMP guidelines
Support research and development test runs in the plant along with new customer launches
Oversee inventory readiness including: raw materials, packaging and in-process
Partner with Legal as necessary to ensure Jelly Belly Candy Company (Thailand), Ltd. remains in compliance with national and local laws and regulations.

Skills that will make you successful

Proven leadership abilities in championing continuous improvement, safety, and team building
Strong interpersonal skills (communication, coaching, setting expectations, providing feedback)
Demonstrated problem solving and decision-making skills
Comprehensive business acumen in managing and improving operations, team performance, communication, and processes
Knowledge of budgeting, procurement, and cost control
Proficient in Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Specific computer skills with SAP, employee timekeeping and maintenance management systems strong preferred

Experiences that will support your success

Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate business discipline and 10 pus years of relevant and successful job experience in a food manufacturing environment
Knowledgeable in all aspects of food manufacturing, processing, and warehousing
Strong interest and proven capabilities in taking full accountability for plant performance including management of team, process, reporting, and day-to-day execution of objectives.
Commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Demonstrated Continuous Improvement, TPM methodologies, and Lean mindset

Ferrara’s success in industry-leading innovation has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer co-creation and partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. A privately held company, Ferrara has its global headquarters in Chicago and an operational network of more than 27 locations in North America, Brazil, and China that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero related company. Learn more at www.ferrara.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara-.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.