OUR PLACEMENTS

Placement summary

This graduate placement will look at improvements to communications and quality of information between member farms and the production department within the factory, with the intention of reducing costs throughout the supply chain.

Job description

Project Description

Placement will look at improvements to communications and quality of information between member farms and the production department within the factory, with the intention of reducing costs throughout the supply chain.

Main tasks

• Co-ordination of member/farm forecasts.
• Reconciling with the actual tonnage; primarily through the spreadsheet-based monitoring tool that provides demonstrated performance information; to be used as the key measurement.
• Further verification of this information; incorporating farm audits and enforcing a consistent rationale for the estimate across the membership.
• Prepare, document and maintain records of historical volumes, performance, current availability and future estimates of individual and collective farm activity
• In conjunction with the Technical department and broader business, providing assistance for Farm audits to include; assessment of farm bio-security, predator control processes, Health & Safety, general processing hygiene (especially at grading stations) and ad-hoc quality inspection.
• Farm inspection to ensure that the required quality is reached following any farm-specific issue highlighted within the production business.
• The lead contact for monthly, weekly and daily supply availability co-ordination between the processing part of the business and the farms (including details of the sites’ estimated QC assessment), being cognisant of the following; (supported by the wider business) o Using routine mussel quality assessments at farms. o Taking account of FSA bio-toxin results (strategic stock). o Taking account of spawning (strategic stock). o Taking account of water classification.
• Liaison between the processing part of the business and the farms, individually and collectively, through the members meetings. The postholder will lead on this but it will include a broad SSMG representation.
• Assisting the whole “supply chain” to improve quality and efficiency. Project manager for new practices or systems e.g. switch to bulk bags. This will be supported by other SSMG resource but the postholder will be the best suited resource for any specifically identified project, in the long term.
• First point of contact to members for consolidated services e.g. consumable / machinery purchases. This will be supported heavily to begin with, by other SSMG staff.
• Provide support to the wider SSMG team for customer farm visits or meetings and for liaison with external regulatory and certification bodies (e.g. FSA; MSC; FoS).
• Work with individual farms to identify and share best practice and synergy opportunities on a pre-agreed project basis. This would involve a phased handover as experience and training is developed.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a relevant business related degree

Skills / Experience

• Good communication skills, especially in communicating technical issues to non-technical people
• Understanding of value streams and supply chain management
• Good organisational skills
• Work well as part of a team, but capable of independent thinking and decision making
• Good knowledge of IT, in particular Microsoft Office
• Full driving licence preferred

Benefits

As part of the ScotGrad Graduate Placement Programme, the candidate will benefit from support from the ScotGrad team and may have access to training.

Additional information

Location: Bellshill, North Lanarkshire

Preferred start date: 01/10/2013

Company information

SSMG is a co-operative of mussel and oyster farmers, incorporated in 1992, selling live and cooked shellfish to most supermarkets, as well as into the food service and export markets. Our members are spread throught the west and north coasts and islands of Scotland. We are a rapidly growing company, with turnover of c. £14M in the year 2012/13, and have recently moved into new premises to allow for contnued growth.

Company sector: Food and Drink

http://www.scottishshellfish.co.uk/