Senior Manager, Formulation Strategy & Technology

The purpose of Senior Manager - Formulations Strategy & Technology, is to lead and develop the Formulations function at TWG as a strategic partner to WGP and WFAN in driving margins and enhancing customer experience through optimal delivery of nutrients.   The ideal incumbent is a seasoned feed formulator and/or nutritionist with strategic mindset to leverage the existing and growing feed volumes, internal and differentiating capabilities in driving the bottom line. This influential role calls for a profound understanding of the technical, physiological and economical dynamics around nutrients, and innovative capabilities to formulate ingredients in their delivery to livestock, while capturing the highest value in terms of margin and cost. 

Who are we:
The Wenger Group (TWG) is a family owned, professionally managed diversified animal agriculture group comprising of commercial livestock feed (Wenger Feeds Animal Nutrition - WFAN); ingredient procurement and fertilizer (Wenger Global Procurement - WGP) and contract chicken farming, egg marketing, and integrated pork production (Wenger Protein Group - WPG). WFAN is the largest multi-species commercial feed manufacturer in the region, with over 78 years of production experience across 10 feed mills. WFAN is well positioned in the segment as the 'nutrient provider' to livestock producers supported by its strategically located manufacturing capabilities in the geography, nutrition, innovation and research facilities, well fledged nutrition and quality laboratory and established quality, safety and environment management systems certified by ISO for over 19 years, that differentiate from rest of the players in the segment.

What will you do:

Strategy – 30%

Develop, implement, and lead the Formulations function as a driver of margin contribution by instituting innovative strategies around nutrient and ingredient projections, nutrient and ingredient parametrics, formulation frequency, and value-based (least cost, optimal cost, re-price), margin driven formulations, in active collaboration with Nutrition Services (NS), Global Procurement (GP) and Relationship Management (RM).

Collaborate with NS, GP, RM and manufacturing in ingredient optimization to minimize hand add risk; implement practical methodology to eliminate product additions at Customer Service (CS) level.

Develop, implement, and manage individual and team metrics (including formulations service response time) in evaluation of Formulation function's value to the organization.

Technology – 30%

Develop a comprehensive business requirements document (BRD) for a multi-species (avian, monogastric, dairy and others), multi-location integrated formulation software; collaborate with IT, NS, GP and manufacturing leaders in identifying and selecting the software for implementation. 

Be accountable for successful implementation and seamless integration of the formulation software with procurement, quality, manufacturing, and accounting softwares.

Be accountable for rolling out and training the Formulations members and other stakeholders on the new software and continual development.

Explore, evaluate and supplement to the formulation software, modules for: ingredient valuation based on its $ value of constituent nutrients; a modeling tool that would provide multiple density rations/programs to suit changing market dynamics and customer needs; assess and analyze accuracy of ingredient projections vs actual usage. 

Continually assess existing customer support modules (Customer Formulation Portal) for suitability and effectiveness and make improvements as needed.

Develop and successfully implement tools in service of our customers including a Customer Formulation Portal enabling customers to seamlessly update diets a scalable tool with weighted average formula spreadsheet for customers that forward contract ingredients.

Collaborate with IT on exploring automation technologies such as Robotic Process Optimization for formulation and related mundane manual processes.

Process Optimization – 15%

Serve as the owner and administrator of formulations technologies and tools and govern access levels to subscribers internally and externally (Wenger Consultant Nutritionists).

Be the primary source of setting up and periodical updates to ingredients in the formulation and accounting softwares, their costs and prices; updates to ingredients, guaranteed analyses, feed labels compliance and synchronization with central database. 

Collaborate and feed GP team with periodical and need basis ingredient projections for the network, allocations to individual locations and usage; tonnage movement across locations to enhance mill and transportation efficiencies, optimize usage during market shortfalls/excesses.

Collaborate and assist manufacturing team with ingredient substitutions and/or reformulations due to ingredient outage, training of stakeholders and ensure such costs are covered per policy.

Technical Support – 15%

Serve as the primary interface with internal and external customers and Independent Nutritionists   related to Formulations function (receiving, setting up, updating, and providing inputs) 

Collaborate with NS on a periodical basis reviewing the current programs, updating necessary changes, updating costs and administering to locations; update and implement various medication, certification and specialty programs.

Collaborate with all stake holder functions in supplier evaluation, approving new ingredients to meet regulatory and internal system requirements; deactivating and reactivating archived ingredients, etc

Assist NS in innovation and research activities (test or trial ingredients, diets, costs, and their analyses) with inputs related to Formulations.

Support investigation and disposal of non-conformances and continual improvement of manufacturing processes. 

Keep abreast with industry developments in the areas of nutrition and formulations and attend/represent TWG at relevant events.

Assist in certifications/audits including, but not limited to; SQF, organic, ISO, Non-GMO, FDA, PDA,

Ensure Formulations support is available 24x7 to internal and external customers.

Team Development – 10%

Provide strategic leadership, functional development and talent management for team members aligning with the vision for Formulations function.

Recruit, build and develop an effective, competent, and engaged team trained in formulations across species and ready to fill for other team members as needed.

Assist upskilling the base knowledge of team members across the organization through training in the Formulations area at periodical onboarding and Wenger Animal Nutrition Academy (WANA) sessions. 

Lead talent management of team, be accountable for the selection, training, engagement, performance development and succession planning of team members.   

Customers:

External : Livestock Producers (poultry/swine/dairy); Ingredient and Additive suppliers, Regulatory authorities, Process and Certification agencies, and auditors

Internal : Nutrition Services; Global Procurement; Quality Control; Manufacturing; Finance; Relationship Management; Wenger   Protein Group 

Who are you:

• A Masters degree in animal nutrition or related field with proficiency in handling feed formulation software and allied technologies
• 10 years of formulation (and nutrition program development) experience for poultry or monogastric livestock
• Experience managing formulations of multi-species and multi-location feed or integration operations
• Aptitude to embrace new technologies and adapt developments in the information technology to formulations space.
• Demonstrates Wenger's Core Values

Benefits:

For all full-time team members, we offer full medical, dental and vision insurance. All team members are eligible to participate in a 401(k) Plan with an employer match, Basic Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life, Disability, Parental leave, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending, Employee Referral Bonus, Safety Bonus, Meat Bonus, Easter Hams, Thanksgiving Turkeys, Annual Outing, Tuition Reimbursement, Pet Insurance, Wenger Sponsorship Program, Uniform and/or Corporate Wear, Tool and Boot Allowances, Recognition Awards. Each team member has the potential to earn a yearly bonus based on the achievement of company goals. **Eligibility is dependent upon position, level, years of service, company performance, and Executive Team approval**