Production Manager (1138179)

Production Manager

Overview

Leads day-to-day production operations in a ready-to-eat (RTE) and frozen food manufacturing facility, executing production across IQF, frozen bowls, sauce chips, and high-speed packaging while ensuring food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Hands-on role with 70–75% time on the floor supporting a primarily Spanish-speaking workforce. Drives performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale (SQDCM).

• Direct Reports
• Production Supervisors
• Team Leaders
• Hourly Employees

Responsibilities

Production Operations

• Execute daily, weekly, monthly production plans aligned with labor, materials, and capacity
• Oversee IQF, frozen bowl, sauce chip, and packaging operations (SUP, VFFS)
• Optimize throughput, staffing, changeovers, and material flow
• Adjust staffing and balance lines in real time
• Drive schedule attainment and implement recovery plans
• Track output vs. finished goods demand
• Ensure Pre-Op and Downtime reports with RCA and corrective actions

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMPs, and allergen controls
• Maintain cold chain and execution of CCPs and preventive controls
• Support audit readiness (SQF, FSSC 22000)
• Partner with QA on non-conformances and product issues

Leadership & Workforce

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, team leads, and hourly staff
• Manage staffing, scheduling, and attendance
• Partner with HR on hiring, performance, and employee relations
• Build cross-training and promote safety and accountability culture

Equipment & Process

• Partner with Maintenance to ensure uptime and reliability
• Support PMs, sanitation, and SOP adherence
• Participate in trials, validations, and capital projects

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor KPIs (OEE, yield, scrap, safety, OTIF)
• Lead RCA and corrective actions
• Drive Lean initiatives including 5S and continuous improvement

Cross-Functional

• Partner with Supply Chain, QA, Engineering, Sales, and Finance
• Support audits, customer interactions, and product launches

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience accepted
• Experience: 5+ years leadership in food manufacturing
• Experience: In RTE, frozen, or IQF environments
• Experience: With high-speed packaging (SUP, VFFS, flow pack)
• Experience: Multi-shift operations

Skills

• Strong knowledge of FSMA, HACCP, GMPs, and food safety audits
• Data-driven with strong KPI management skills
• Leverage Lean/5S experience
• ERP/MRP and Microsoft Office proficiency
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Spanish bilingual preferred