Manager, Production - Food Manufacturer

About the role

Mama’s Creations, Inc. is a leading marketer and manufacturer of fresh deli prepared foods, found in over 8,500 groceries, mass, club and convenience stores nationally. The Company’s broad product portfolio, born as Mama Mancini’s, from a rich history in Italian foods, now consists of a variety of high quality, fresh, clean and easy to prepare foods to address the needs of both our consumers and retailers. Our vision is to become a one-stop-shop deli solutions platform, leveraging vertical integration and a diverse family of brands to offer a wide array of prepared foods to meet the changing demands of the modern consumer.

The Production Manager will oversee day-to-day operations of the manufacturing plant and be responsible for managing production schedules, ensuring Grandma Quality and safety standards are met, optimizing workflows, and leading a team to meet production targets efficiently and cost-effectively. This role requires strong leadership skills to promote our culture of values: Commit to Craftsmanship, Nurture Relationships, and Honor Heritage.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and control manufacturing processes to meet daily, weekly, and monthly production targets.
• Maintain an unwavering commitment to Grandma Quality while seeking innovative solutions that respect our time-honored methods.
• Supervise and motivate production staff, including supervisors, operators, and line workers.
• Foster an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative environment that values each team member’s contributions.
• Promote a culture of accountability, safety, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement.
• Align labor with volume requirements and throughput goals to ensure sustainable practices.
• Develop and implement training programs to ensure team members are properly trained/cross-trained on production procedures, safety protocols, equipment operation, and Grandma Quality standards.
• Ensure all products meet established Grandma Quality standards and comply with food safety regulations (e.g., FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMP).
• Develop and maintain production and staffing schedules and resource plans to ensure efficiency in throughput and labor costs.
• Lead post-shift huddles to confirm schedule attainment, analyze shortfalls, document root causes, and support an open exchange of ideas for continuous learning.
• Coordinate with procurement and warehouse teams to ensure raw materials and packaging supplies are available as needed.
• Track inventory levels for infrequently run items.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency through lean manufacturing principles.
• Enforce strict adherence to safety protocols and lead initiatives to improve workplace safety and reduce incidents.
• Prepare and present production reports, performance metrics, and operational KPIs to senior management.
• Manage and monitor employee hours/overtime using ADP via the time clock system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in food science, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of production or operations management experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards, HACCP, GMP, and other relevant regulatory requirements.
• Proven leadership skills with experience managing teams in a manufacturing setting.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient with manufacturing software (NetSuite preferred), Microsoft Office Suite, and production planning tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma certification or experience with lean manufacturing techniques.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

Work Environment & Essential Physical Requirements

Stand/walk for extended periods of time, wear appropriate protective/sanitary clothing/equipment, maintain manual dexterity, operate various manual and electric kitchen equipment, reach, lift/carry up to 60 pounds, and be exposed to extreme hot/cold temperatures.