Spray Dry Manager

Job Title:

Spray Dry Manager Department:

Manufacturing Reports to:

VP Order Fulfillment Salary Range:

DOE Status:

Exempt (Salary)

Schedule:

Full Time (40+ hours per week)

Shift:

Determined by

VP Managerial Responsibility Level:

Supervisor Job Summary The Spray Dry Manager is responsible for leading spray drying and related powder processing operations within a nutraceutical manufacturing environment. This role oversees daily production, staffing, safety, quality, sanitation, and equipment readiness to ensure products are manufactured efficiently and in compliance with customer requirements, internal specifications, and applicable dietary supplement cGMP and food safety standards. Key Deliverables Foster a culture of safety, food safety & an environment where quality is built in. Ensure all spray dry orders are built to specification, on-time and in full. (OTIF) Elevate the capabilities of people, assets & process to world-class standards. Main Job Duties 1. Lead daily spray drying and related powder processing operations to meet safety, quality, service, and cost objectives. 2. Plan labor, materials, and equipment utilization to meet the production schedule and customer delivery requirements. 3. Ensure compliance with applicable dietary supplement cGMP requirements, sanitation standards, food safety programs, and site procedures. 4. Monitor critical process parameters such as feed rate, inlet and outlet temperatures, moisture, bulk density, and particle characteristics to maintain product consistency and yield. 5. Partner with Quality, R&D, Engineering, and Supply Chain to support new product launches, scale-ups, process validation, and continuous improvement initiatives. 6. Develop, implement, and maintain SOPs, batch records, cleaning procedures, and training materials for spray drying operations. 7. Lead investigations related to deviations, nonconformances, customer complaints, and out-of-specification conditions, and ensure timely corrective and preventive actions. 8. Drive a strong safety and food safety culture by enforcing PPE, allergen control, housekeeping, hygienic practices, and safe equipment operation. 9. Supervise, coach, and develop supervisors, operators, and support staff, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and skills development. 10. Coordinate preventive maintenance and work closely with maintenance teams to maximize equipment uptime and reliability. 11. Track and report key performance indicators such as throughput, yield, scrap, downtime, labor efficiency, schedule attainment, and right-first-time performance. 12. Support internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections by ensuring accurate documentation and operational readiness. 13. Manage inventory usage and material handling for raw materials, in-process materials, and finished powders to minimize loss and maintain traceability. 14. Identify and implement opportunities to improve capacity, cycle time, labor productivity, sanitation effectiveness, and product quality. 15. Perform other duties as assigned to support plant operations and business objectives.

Managerial Responsibility Level:

Department Lead Leads the spray drying department and supervises the work of others, including planning, assigning, scheduling, monitoring, and reviewing work to ensure safety, quality, and productivity standards are achieved. Responsible for hiring, training, coaching, performance management, and corrective action for direct reports in accordance with company policy.

Education/Work Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Technology, Operations Management, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Minimum 5-8 years of manufacturing leadership experience in nutraceutical, food, dairy, pharmaceutical, or other regulated powder processing environments is preferred. Prior experience with spray drying, blending, batch processing, allergen control, sanitation, and cGMP documentation is strongly preferred.

Work Environment:

This position works primarily in a manufacturing environment and regularly requires time on the production floor. The role may involve exposure to heat, humidity, noise, dust, moving mechanical parts, forklifts, and airborne powders. The work environment may include contact with common food and nutraceutical allergens, sanitation chemicals, and personal protective equipment requirements.

Physical Requirements:

This position frequently requires standing, walking, bending, reaching, climbing stairs, communicating, and using a computer and standard office equipment. The role may occasionally require lifting or moving materials up to 30 pounds and, at times, up to 50 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities may include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to observe manufacturing operations and equipment conditions.

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): Do you have manufacturing leadership experience in nutraceutical, food, dairy, pharmaceutical, or other regulated powder processing environments? Please explain.

Work Location:

In person