AFB Gatehouse Coordinator

This opportunity is located within our AFB International business, the global science and technology leader in pet food palatability. We develop and produce a full range of liquid and dry palatability enhancers using high-quality ingredients proven to optimize companion animal response and consumption.

Job Description

Summary Provides administrative and operational assistance/support to Shipping and Receiving, and to Liquid and Dry Plant, at the Aurora manufacturing facility by performing the following duties

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Dry and Liquid Plant, Shipping and Warehouse

Analyzes, coordinates and administers all shipping and warehouse office operations including but not limited to:

• Verifies and keeps records on incoming and outgoing shipments and prepares items for shipment: Compares identifying information and counts, weighs, or measures items of incoming and outgoing shipments to verify information against bills of lading, invoices, orders, or other records.
• Supplies shipping labels on packed materials or stencils identifying shipping information on palletized product as required.
• Compiles appropriate paperwork and identifying information and shipping instructions for shipment as required.
• Unpacks and examines incoming shipments, rejects damaged items, records shortages, and corresponds on incoming dry plant supplies.
• Routes items to departments.
• Examines outgoing shipments to ensure shipments meet correct paperwork and BOL requirements.
• Maintains inventory of shipping materials and supplies.
• Coordinate mail and package distribution & deliveries within the entire facility.
• Coordinate with QC and Shipping Supervisor to ensure a coordinated effort for timely and accurate delivery of samples when necessary.
• Answers, attends to and/or routes incoming phone calls for the facility, shipping and warehousing functions to ensure all issues are addressed, and drivers are coordinated as to dock destination.

Continuous Improvement

• Supports Continuous Improvement efforts throughout the Shipping, Warehousing, and Dry/Liquid Plant operations as needed but not limited to:
  • Kaizen Event participation
  • Visual management support
  • Training materials and manuals
  • Presentation documents
• Provides assistance and data management in support of Continuous Improvement engagement among employees and management, including tracking, trending, and reporting.

Plant Office Administration Support

• Supports all activities and initiatives of the office administration as required.
• Provides back-up support when needed to fill in for the office administration and cover front office support.
• Cover's front desk during hours when office administration is unavailable, for special events, tours, visitors, etc.
• Supports plant administration in planning and coordinating activities and events to include but not limited to:
  • Employee events
  • Celebrations and other recognition events
  • Community relations events
  • Other event planning as needed

Maintains effective communication between Shipping and Warehousing functions, Dry & Liquid Plant functions, and Aurora Manufacturing functions to include AFB International, Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries, and national and international facilities and offices regarding internal processes, programs, meetings, business initiatives, as needed, etc.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

High School Diploma or equivalent; or 2 or more years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Demonstrates attention to detail.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Follows policies and procedures.
• Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time.
• Prioritizes and plans work activities.
• Uses time efficiently.
• Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks.
• Follows instructions, responds to management direction.
• Strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, and Outlook.
• Strong working knowledge of Windows and Internet applications.

Core Company Skill Sets

Communication - Anticipates information that is needed and meets the need with highly credible and insightful material; delivery is clear and concise. Expresses ideas enthusiastically and is an active listener. Successful candidate is an individual who is a visionary, adjusts communication style to stimulate feedback and prepares/delivers high impact presentations.

Job Expertise - Extremely well-qualified; able to apply knowledge to champion individual projects to successful completion. Recognized by the industry and highly respected by peers as an expert in the field; often sought after for mentoring role inside the company or as an outside speaker. Well-rounded in other business areas, the successful candidate is an individual who is very current in field of expertise, leading developments and transferring skills and knowledge.

Planning & Execution - Always establishes SMART goals, anticipates the unforeseen and develops viable contingency plans; conducts outstanding meetings that result in powerful decisions and actions; tenaciously follows through on commitments. The successful candidate leaves no stone unturned in achieving goals and often over-delivers against expectations; demonstrates a consistently high level of commitment and energy that inspires and motivates the rest of the organization.

Customer Focus & Competitive Advantage - Understands customer needs exceptionally well, identifying/implementing solutions that meet or exceed those needs; engaged with customer visits and research. Conducts regular competitive activity updates; anticipates competitive moves in the market, making recommendations on appropriate responses. Leads the development of proprietary products, processes, and technology, yielding sustainable new advantages relative to competition. The successful candidate is an individual who champions new ideas, drives execution, and works with other departments to impact change; creates a flexible environment for continuous improvement to achieve long-term success for the whole company.

Teamwork - Extremely reliable individual that always works toward team goals, actively participates in meetings and projects, volunteers for tasks, has information ready, often prior to the request. Willing to take a lead role in moving the project forward or to serve as a support member as required to meet the needs of the group and organization. Listens and communicates exceptionally well, effectively plans and follows up. Helps the team reach decisions and takes responsibility for own actions. The successful candidate constantly drives the organization towards the best results, supporting and stimulating colleagues, leading the team by example without placing themselves above the team.

Job Specific Skill Sets

Adaptability - The Role Model responds positively to change. They adapt readily to different ways of doing things and maintain effectiveness when confronted with new work situations or the uncertainty and ambiguity that comes with change. They handle situations without overreacting or becoming emotional. They are open to new ideas, assignments and approaches. They adapt appropriately to competing demands and shifting priorities. They constructively deal with mistakes and setbacks. The role model provides people with feedback and advice to increase other's adaptability.

Analyze issues and problem solving - The successful candidate quickly, completely, and accurately sorts through challenging and complex issues, often using sophisticated testing methods. They obtain relevant information through people and data, think logically and focusing on what is critical and important. They identify the root causes, generate reasonable alternatives and manage the buy-in and support/implementation of the chosen solution. They anticipate situations that could impact the organization, finding high-quality solutions before a problem arises.

Attention to detail and accurate - The successful candidate identifies inconsistencies and/or errors in complex situations quickly; they ensure a high level of accuracy through thorough review and revision of material relating to projects, decisions and actions. They comply with the intent of policies, procedures and agreements. They ensure no detail is neglected to keep a project on target, reach a goal or meet a need. They coach employees at every level to be detail oriented and accurate.

Building relationships - The Role Model works with others in order to achieve goals. They are committed to developing and maintaining respectful, productive relationships with others, recognizing the payoff in terms of support for the company objectives. They build relationships with people at all levels of the organization, and have a broad network in the industry, profession or with other business parties. They maintain positive relationships even under difficult or heated circumstances. They work with others to make work fun and enjoyable.

Organizing - The successful candidate forecasts tasks, processes, resources and time needed to accomplish their objectives. They anticipate problems and revise plans to meet changing circumstances. They plan and coordinate work with others; they clearly communicate to the organization; they are proactive and constantly monitor progress. They hold people accountable for commitments. The role model coaches other people in the organization how to schedule time, prioritize etc.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet, can be moderately loud at times.

AFB International is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.