Engineering Operations Manager (EOM)

Engineering Operations Manager

At Ocado Group

Balzac, Alberta, Canada

Who We Are

Ocado is a UK based company admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange (Ticker OCDO). It comprises one of the world's largest dedicated online grocery retailers, operating its own grocery and general merchandise retail businesses under Ocado.com and other specialist shop banners, together with its Ocado Solutions division.

The Ocado Solutions division is responsible for providing Ocado’s innovative advanced robotics technology, known as the Ocado Smart Platform ("OSP"), to our major retailer clients around the world. OSP comprises access to Ocado's physical infrastructure solutions, running highly efficient warehouse operations for the single pick of products, together with the entire end-to-end proprietary software applications and advanced robotics required to operate a world-class online grocery business.

Our unique, proprietary and industry-leading technology is set to transform the shopping experience of consumers around the world. We have partnered with the Kroger Family of Companies in the US to help redefine the grocery customer experience through the adoption of the centralized, automated model of online retailing provided by the Ocado Smart Platform.

Come join us as we build our North American team, bringing world-class innovation and technologies to one of the most exciting global markets for e-commerce.

What You Will Do

Reporting to the Senior Engineering Operations Manager, the initial focus of the Engineering Operations Manager is to deliver operational excellence across every shift, driving the department to a right first time culture. The positions will be located at the Customer Fulfillment Center working closely with Inbound, Outbound and other support teams to optimize availability and performance of the facility, and its MHE automation. The primary focus is to achieve the safest working environment and most efficient operation; a balance between the lowest cost and the highest uptime to meet customer demand.

Key Focus Areas:

• Champion safe working practices. Create and promote a safe work culture by being a champion of safe work practices.
• Set, achieve and exceed agreed engineering KPIs, including fault reduction and elimination
• Performance management, development and training of the team; daily direct personnel management responsibility
• Lead a proactive customer focused culture
• Drive and support change initiatives for MHE equipment and process improvement
• Build collaborative relationships with key customers and robust communication links
• Manage operational costs

The Engineering Operations Manager’s day-to-day responsibilities could include:

• Direct and coordinate safety meetings creating any needed risk assessments to complete planned work.
• Attend and audit safety meetings held by ETM’s to monitor their actions to creating or implementing any needed risk assessments to complete planned work.
• Maintain and improve performance to maximize efficiency of operation in line with KPIs
• Align, priorities and monitor KPI’s that support the Customer’s optimized service for its end customer/clients
• Champion safe working practices with expedited investigations and corrective actions
• In conjunction with the Sr. Engineering Operations Manager and the HR Team, ensure employee recognition & discipline (including documenting and resolving policy violations, conducting performance and holding probation review meetings)
• Responsible for personnel management including: time and attendance, time-off requests, establishing and reviewing goals and objectives, general mentoring, driving accountability and assigning daily priorities
• Prioritize daily objectives and KPI’s that support the customer’s performance and deliveries for optimal end customer satisfaction 
• Develop effective customer relationships to facilitate communication and execution to ensure that the customer’s deliverables are successfully achieved.
• Involvement in the recruitment and training of new and existing staff 
• Lead Engineering Team Managers to effectively prioritize and allocate workload; deploying labor based on the demands and requirements of the task against the competency and capability of resource
• Assessment of engineering team skills and assisting in upskilling and training of staff with a focus on cross training for coverage redundancy
• Set the example for others by demonstrating a relentless focus on quality, efficiency and costs reductions.
• Chair advanced stage formal meetings up to and including dismissal where productivity expectancy, quality standards, process health and safety requirements or conduct standards have not been met
• Champion the process of continuous improvement and developing business cases for funding and detailing implementation plans, with which to guide your management team in delivering initiatives
• Provide training, mentoring, coaching and development of Team

The Engineering Operations Manager may be asked to perform tasks as required by management deemed as a reasonable request from time-to-time. This job description is a summary of the typical functions of the role, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of possible role responsibilities, tasks and duties and is subject to review. The responsibilities, tasks and duties of the job holder might differ from those outlined in the job description and other duties, as assigned, might form part of the job.  

The initial 6 to 9 months will involve training and most likely require some travel in order to obtain the training from another site in the US and/or UK.  In the event the operations is undergoing its initial startup, the daily responsibilities for this role may be different while supporting the needs of a facility in its initial stages of starting its operations.  Once the facility is commissioned, the roles defined in this job description will become the daily responsibilities for the EOM.

Who You Are

To qualify for this position, you should meet the following requirements:

• A minimum of 8 years' relevant experience in electrical and/or mechanical roles.
• A minimum of 5 years' experience in a management or supervisory level within an automated environment.
• A bachelor's degree in engineering or relevant field of study or; an associate’s degree coupled with an additional 8 years of relevant experience in an electrical and/or mechanical profession, preferably gained in an FMCG background or; an additional 8 years of relevant experience in an electrical and/or mechanical profession, preferably gained in an FMCG background.
• Comprehensive understanding of production, picking and storage MHE systems, gained from experience in an automated environment
• Strong knowledge of computerized maintenance management systems(CMMS)
• Experience managing desired MRO levels
• Strong verbal communication, written and numeracy skills
• Must possess strong organizational and multi-tasking skills, be attentive to detail and be self-motivated
• Must have strong ability to delegate
• Sound analytical skills with an eye for detail; good problem solving ability and a practical approach
• Experience of managing KPI’s to target
• Proficient / experienced in SPC, Lean, Kaizen, and/or continuous process improvement preferred
• Experience in a 24/7 productivity conscious warehouse environment (desirable)
• The ability to really engage and enthuse a diverse team in a time-constrained environment
• Computer literate and the ability to learn new software utilized to complete expected tasks
• Numerate and PC literate including Word, Excel etc.

Physical Activities: 

• Ascending or descending ladders and stairs. 
• Moving between worksites to accomplish tasks in tight and confined spaces. 
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for a prolonged period. 
• Adjusting or moving objects up to 30 pounds in all directions. Work that includes moving objects up to 100 pounds or more. 
• Communicating with others to exchange information. 

Environmental Conditions: 

• Low temperatures and noisy environments. 

Location

Our Engineering Operations Manager position is located in our Calgary (Balzac) Alberta Customer Fulfillment Center. 

 For a sense of who we are and what we deliver we invite you to explore online to learn more about Ocado Technology and Ocado Engineering, which directly support the Ocado Solutions division, and take the next step in what will be an amazing career with us.

Learn about our partnership with Sobeys:

• Ocado seals new international tie-up with Sobeys in Canada
• A sneak peek at the future of grocery automation in Canada
• Check out this video about our advanced robotics technology

Ocado is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, veteran’s status, or any other classification as required by applicable law.

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