Packaging Supervisor

(Thursday-Saturday & every other Wednesday from 5:00pm-5:00am)

Position Overview:

The Production Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily operations within the freeze-drying production facility, ensuring that all processes run efficiently, safely, and in compliance with food safety and quality standards. This role provides leadership to production teams, manages schedules, and supports continuous improvement initiatives to meet production goals and customer requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise, train, and motivate production team members to achieve daily, weekly, and monthly production targets.

• Conduct shift handovers, assign tasks, and ensure proper staffing levels.

• Foster a positive, safety-focused, and accountable work culture.

• Production Oversight

• Monitor freeze-drying, packaging, and related production processes to ensure consistent product quality.

• Troubleshoot issues with equipment, processes, or materials, escalating as needed.

• Ensure compliance with production schedules, minimizing downtime and waste.

• Quality & Compliance

• Maintain adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP, FDA, and other regulatory requirements.

• Conduct line inspections, verify product quality, and enforce sanitation and safety protocols.

• Support internal and external audits by maintaining accurate documentation and reporting.

• Safety & Maintenance

• Ensure all employees follow plant safety rules, lock-out/tag-out procedures, and proper use of PPE.

• Collaborate with maintenance teams to address equipment issues proactively.

• Lead and participate in safety meetings and corrective action planning.

• Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, and optimize throughput.

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for production issues.

• Support implementation of Lean Manufacturing and 5S practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience in food manufacturing, freeze-drying, or related processing environment.
• Strong knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulations.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, 24/7 production environment (flexibility for shifts/weekends may be required).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with ERP/MES systems preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and work in a manufacturing environment for extended periods.
• Capability to lift up to 30 lbs and work in cold/dry environments typical of freeze-dry operations.
• Comfortable wearing PPE, including hairnets, gloves, and protective clothing.

FOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS:

• Place high priority on food safety, quality, and sanitation by understanding and executing Thrive Food's food safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
• Hold self and others accountable to Thrive Foods food safety & sanitation guidelines and policies by communicating any food safety incident, observation, or opportunity to your leadership team or teammates.
• In the absence of Lead serves as back up to ensure all food safety, quality objectives and SQF system requirements are met.