Production Manager

Production Manager

The Production Manager provides leadership for a 24 hour cheese and cultured products manufacturing operation.

This role is responsible for driving safety, quality, service, and cost performance while developing high performing teams and ensuring operational excellence.

The Production Manager partners closely with plant leadership and cross functional teams to support business objectives, continuous improvement initiatives, regulatory compliance, and employee engagement.

This position leads approximately 80 employees through a team of supervisors and frontline leaders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


* Lead daily production operations to safely meet customer, quality, service, and cost objectives.


* Develop, coach, and mentor supervisors and production team members to build a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.


* Drive improvements in productivity, labor efficiency, waste reduction, product quality, and operational performance.


* Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, GMP, HACCP, regulatory, and company requirements.


* Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, Supply Chain, and Human Resources to support plant objectives and resolve operational challenges.


* Oversee the execution of the production plan to satisfy customer demand and support business goals.


* Lead root cause analysis and problem solving efforts to address operational issues and drive sustainable improvements.


* Develop and manage budgets, support capital improvement projects, and utilize operational performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and business results.


* Support internal, customer, and third party audits and implement corrective actions as needed.


* Promote and model a strong safety culture while ensuring compliance with all environmental, health, and safety requirements.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES


* Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of supervisors and employees.


* Conduct performance reviews, provide coaching and development, and support succession planning efforts.


* Address employee relations matters in partnership with Human Resources.


* Support workforce planning, staffing, and organizational development initiatives.


* Lead change management efforts and drive adoption of new processes and improvements.

QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED)


* Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of manufacturing experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.


* Progressive leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.


* Experience leading teams in a fast paced production setting.


* Strong communication, decision making, problem solving, and organizational skills.


* Experience managing multiple priorities and driving performance through others.

QUALIFICATIONS (PREFERRED)


* Food manufacturing experience highly preferred.


* Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety systems.
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