Director of Specialty Crop

Job Title:                   Director of Specialty Crop Operations

Department:              Pulse Division

Location:                   Great Falls, MT (Onsite)

Reports To:               CEO

Organizational Background:

Columbia Grain International, LLC. is a long time established full-service grain company in the grain and pulses business. We are headquartered in Portland, Oregon and own/operate over 50 elevators and offices throughout WA, ID, MT, NE and ND to support our domestic and export sales program.

We are a mid-size company with just over 500 employees overall. The employees at Columbia Grain, at all levels of our organization, represent some of the most experienced and knowledgeable in the industry. We are proud of our ability to attract and maintain talented, efficient, long term, community minded employees who can develop lasting relationships with producers and customers both domestic and around the world.

Position Description:

As the Director of Specialty Crop Operations, you will serve as a strategic and hands-on leader, responsible for optimizing production across all Pulse, Mustard, and specialty crop processing facilities within a wide geographic area. The ideal candidate will implement lean manufacturing principles across all sites, drive operational excellence, uphold safety, labor, and quality standards, and build a high-performing team to support the company’s objectives.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Operations Management

• Oversee daily operations of all specialty crop processing plants for Mustard and Pulses including but not limited to Port of Wilma, Conrad Specialty, Tiber, Chinook, Plentywood Pulse, Merc Pulse, Ross, Walhalla, Merrifield, Valley City Pulse, and Hastings
• Set and achieve specific processing goals at all facilities.
• Implement operational best practices to maximize efficiency and productivity
• Develop and execute strategic plans to optimize plant utilization and throughput
• Manage operational budgets and control costs across all facilities

Safety Leadership

• Collaborate with the Director of Safety to implement comprehensive safety programs
• Ensure all facilities maintain compliance with safety regulations and company standards
• Foster a culture of safety-first throughout all operations
• Lead regular safety reviews and implement corrective actions as needed

Food Safety Oversight

• Direct the Food Safety Director to maintain rigorous food safety standards across all plants
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and industry best practices
• Oversee food safety audits and certification processes
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives for food safety systems

Team Development

• Create and maintain a hierarchical organizational chart that provides clarity on career paths
• Develop managers who effectively lead their teams to meet operational goals
• Ensure adequate staffing to fulfill 24/5 operations (minimum) or as necessary to meet or exceed bushel handling goals
• Implement performance management systems to drive accountability and results

Training Program Development

• Establish a comprehensive training program delivered by the Quality Control/Training Director
• Ensure all employees are properly trained on equipment functions, processes, and procedures
• Develop standardized operating procedures for unloading, loading, and all critical operations
• Create cross-training opportunities to build operational flexibility

Quality Management

• Institutionalize a sampling process requiring all home-stored pulses to provide representative samples within 48 hours of contract
• Ensure receiving facilities document results and build a database to compare upon actual delivery
• Implement protocols for new crop contracts to supply samples immediately upon harvesting
• Establish quality standards and monitoring systems across all facilities

Maintenance and Capital Planning

• Oversee repair and maintenance programs to minimize downtime
• Develop preventative maintenance schedules for all critical equipment
• Identify and prioritize capital expenditure needs
• Collaborate with finance on capital budgeting and ROI analysis

Strategic Planning

• Contribute to long-term business strategy and growth initiatives
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and innovation
• Analyze market trends and adjust operations accordingly
• Develop contingency plans for operational challenges

Skills, Knowledge, Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Agriculture, Food Science, or related field; MBA preferred
• 10+ years of progressive experience in agricultural processing operations
• 5+ years in senior leadership role overseeing multiple facilities
• Demonstrated experience in pulse or specialty crop processing
• Strong understanding of food safety regulations and quality management systems
• Proven track record of improving operational efficiency and capacity utilization
• Experience with capital planning and project management
• Excellent leadership and team development skills
• Strong financial acumen and budget management experience
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical capabilities
• Results-oriented with a focus on continuous improvement
• Collaborative leader who can work effectively across departments
• Decisive problem-solver who can manage multiple priorities
• Regular travel to all processing facilities required (approximately 30-40%)
• Office environment with regular visits to processing plants
• May require occasional weekend or after-hours availability to address operational issues
• Ability to safely navigate processing facilities during site visits

Benefits Offered:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and RX benefits
• Company paid life and disability insurance
• Flexible spending plans
• Employee assistance program
• 401K retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave

Successful completion of initial and ongoing employment screens, including but not limited to criminal background and vehicle record as required.

Columbia Grain is an Equal Opportunity Employer