Production Manager

About the role

Chairmans Foods specializes in producing a wide range of high-quality, consistent customer solutions—main courses, side dishes, queso, ready-to-eat protein salads, and custom solutions for foodservice operators and retail stores. Driven by mission, vision, and values, employee and food safety are always top priorities.

The Production Manager is responsible for the efficient management of the plant’s production department to ensure corporate and plant objectives, policies, and goals are met under safety and environmental guidelines. This role plans, directs, and coordinates work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing product in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications, in compliance with OSHA regulations and applicable laws. May directly supervise employees or supervise through others.

Responsibilities

• Oversee activities related to production, processing, and distribution of products
• Review production schedule and orders to make decisions concerning staffing, inventory, and work procedures within budgetary and time constraints
• Review operations and confer with staff to resolve production or processing problems
• Prepare and maintain production reports, activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity, goal achievement, and identify areas for cost reduction and improvement
• Determine staffing requirements, train employees, and oversee production staff
• Directly train, mentor, and provide guidance to supervisors to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of production shifts
• Recommend process improvements to streamline operations and enhance process capability
• Work closely with QA Manager to ensure food safety standards, GMPs, and HACCP plan are followed at all times by all staff

Requirements

• Basic knowledge of production processes, raw materials, and business/management principles
• Ability to take initiative and self-motivation to produce results
• Excellent verbal and communication skills; ability to listen and convey information effectively
• Proficient at identifying problems, reviewing related information, evaluating options, and implementing solutions
• Strong leadership ability and interpersonal skills
• Critical thinking ability to solve complex problems, evaluate options, and implement solutions
• Ability to follow all sanitation and quality policies and procedures, and report and follow through on deficiencies
• Experience driving a positive work culture; hands-on team builder who recognizes resistance to change and leads individuals and teams toward growth and responsibility
• Ability to deal effectively with organizational issues; identify problems and convert them into opportunities
• Initiative, high level of personal motivation, strong work ethic, and impeccable integrity; relationship building and product knowledge
• Non-authoritative leadership style balancing consensus building and buy-in with a drive for action
• Ability to adapt to changing organizational and operational needs; ability to lead others through change
• Strong team player and leader able to work across multiple functions and disciplines

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business, or equivalent work experience preferred
• 5+ years as a production manager in a food manufacturing setting required
• Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other computer-based applications

Work Environment

• Ability to work in varied temperature environments (0–50°F)
• Heavy lifting required, some over 50 lbs
• Continuous movement; must be able to stand for long periods