Special Projects Director

Job Description

Job Description

Who are we:

We're a leading Northeast family-owned food, agricultural products, and agricultural services organization headquartered in Pennsylvania. We provide animal nutrition and feeds; specialty protein production, processing, and marketing; on-farm protein production services; and grain, fertilizer, and ingredient procurement.

We're a stable company with strong core values, great benefits, competitive wage structure, and a safe and healthy work environment. With over 850 team members, we're a growing company in an essential sector – agriculture!

Learn more here: https://www.thewengergroup.com

What your day looks like:

The Special Projects Director – WFAN Nine Lanes Transformation is responsible for leading and

governing enterprise-wide transformation initiatives aligned to WFAN’s Nine Lanes operating

framework. This role ensures strategic priorities are translated into disciplined execution and sustained

adoption across all sites and functions. The position focuses on program leadership, project

management, and change management rather than day-to-day plant operations.

CORE ACCOUNTABILITY: WFAN NINE LANES

1. Leadership Consistency & Clarity

2. Practical, FSMA-Aligned Operating Standards

3. Demand Planning & Scheduling Stability

4. Workforce Capability, Training & Development

5. Real-Time Quality Integration

6. Transportation & Delivery Alignment

7. Model Mill Standards & Operational Visibility

8. Continuous Improvement & Innovation

9. Capital Efficiency & Long-Term Planning

Enterprise Program Leadership

Partner with business leaders and own the Nine Lanes transformation roadmap, establish governance, and ensure integration across initiatives.

Project & Portfolio Management

Lead concurrent enterprise initiatives with clear scope, milestones, metrics, and benefits realization.

Change Management & Adoption

Design and execute change strategies that drive adoption, sustainability, and leader engagement.

Model Mill & Standardization Leadership

Partner with business leaders to drive progress and manage the process of Model Mill standards and ensure consistent execution supported by training and leader routines.

Cross-Functional Integration

Integrate work across Operations, Quality, FSQR, Maintenance, Engineering, Planning, Transportation, HR, Finance, and IT.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

Define KPIs, maintain dashboards, and provide executive-ready reporting.

Capability Building & Knowledge Transfer

Institutionalize learning and build internal project and change leadership capability.

Strategic Advisory & Continuous Improvement

Advise leadership on priorities and continuously refine initiatives based on results.

Other duties as assigned.

Who you are:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

• 10–15 years of progressive experience leading enterprise-scale initiatives.

• Strong project management, change leadership, business acumen, and executive communication skills required.

Technical & Operational Expertise

• Strong, practical knowledge of feed manufacturing processes, mill operations, equipment performance, and maintenance practices.

• Proven experience managing and improving shrink, waste, yield, throughput, downtime, and key cost drivers.

• Hands-on experience with quality systems, inventory control, production scheduling, and raw material management.

• Working understanding of animal nutrition principles as they relate to feed manufacturing performance and product quality.

• Working knowledge of FSMA, SQF, and applicable federal and state feed safety regulations.

Business & Analytical Acumen

• Practical understanding of manufacturing economics, including budgets, operating costs, and basic P&L concepts.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to validate results, quantify ROI, and support data-driven decision-making.

• Ability to translate operational data into clear insights and actionable improvement plans.

Leadership & Change Capability

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, work effectively without direct authority, and drive adoption of new ways of working.

• Proven capability to coach supervisors and frontline leaders and align teams around clear goals and expectations.

• Strong critical thinking and structured problem-solving skills, with sound judgment under operational pressure.

• Clear, effective written and verbal communication skills with strong cross-functional collaboration ability.

Customer & Stakeholder Orientation

• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to balance service expectations and operational discipline.

• Ability to build productive working relationships with internal teams, vendors, and external partners.

Systems & Tools

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Experience with Laserfiche and manufacturing, maintenance, or production systems preferred.

Safety, Values & Physical Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety and experience promoting a safety-first culture.

• Consistent alignmnt with and demonstration of Wenger’s Core Values.

• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel frequently to company and customer locations as required by project assignments.

• Ability to perform essential job functions in an industrial environment, including lifting up to 60 lbs. regularly and up to 100 lbs. occasionally, working at heights, in confined spaces, and in dusty conditions

• Physical Requirements

  • Ability to lift up to 60 lbs. repeatedly and up to 100 lbs. on occasion

  • Ability to climb ladders and work in high places

  • Ability to work in confined spaces

  • Ability to work in dusty conditions

In addition to our more traditional benefits, we also offer great perks and numerous resources for professional development and team building:

• Promotional opportunities
• Rewards and recognition programs
• Robust onboarding and training program
• Employee Discount Programs (Perks at Work)
• Employee referral program
• Encouraging and collaborative culture

What our benefits are:

• Paid Time Off, Floating Holiday, Volunteer Day, Parental Leave, etc.
• Carebridge Employee Assistance Program

For all full-time members:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Medical Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Life Insurance/Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Pet Insurance

Each team member has the potential to earn a yearly bonus based on the achievement of company goals.

The Wenger Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type as protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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