Production Manager

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200+ local family farms, is one of America’s largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Here, you’ll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day. 

Job Summary:  

The Production Manager will oversee daily operations in a high-volume fluid milk processing plant, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant production. This role is responsible for leading and developing production teams, driving continuous improvement, and meeting key performance goals in safety, quality, efficiency, and cost. The Production Manager will coordinate closely with Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to optimize workflows, maintain regulatory compliance (SQF, HACCP, FDA, USDA), and deliver consistent product to customers. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills are essential to success in this role. 

Qualifications:  

• 5+ years of supervisory or management experience in food or beverage manufacturing, preferably dairy or fluid milk.
• Strong knowledge of dairy processing operations, blending pasteurization, homogenization, and filling/packaging equipment.
• Familiarity with SQF, HACCP, FDA, USDA, and other regulatory requirements for fluid milk production.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams in a fast-paced, 24/7 production environment.
• Proven track record of driving operational efficiency, reducing waste, and improving plant performance metrics (OEE, yields, downtime).
• Experience with lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and root cause problem-solving.
• Strong safety mindset with the ability to foster a culture of accountability and compliance.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills across departments (Quality, Maintenance, Logistics, and HR).
• Proficiency in production scheduling, inventory control, and ERP/MES systems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) for reporting, analysis, and communication.
• Ability to analyze production data and generate actionable insights for performance improvement.
• Flexibility to work varying shifts and respond to plant operational needs as required.
• Experience collaborating with the cooler storage team.
• Experience managing a packaging and ingredient warehouse.

Preferred qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in food science or business discipline.
• Prior experience in Dairy/Food manufacturing.

Knowledge and Experience:

The successful candidate will have proven experience managing dairy or food manufacturing operations, with strong knowledge of fluid milk processing, filling, and packaging systems. They should demonstrate success in driving efficiency, improving yields, reducing downtime, and ensuring compliance with SQF, HACCP, FDA, and USDA requirements. Proficiency in ERP/MES systems and Microsoft Office programs is essential, along with a track record of leading teams, fostering a culture of safety, and delivering measurable production improvements.

Physical demands:

This position requires the ability to work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to varying temperatures, noise, and standing or walking for extended periods. The role may involve climbing stairs, bending, and lifting up to 50 pounds as needed. Flexibility to work off-shifts or weekends to support production operations is also required.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily fluid milk processing, filling, and packaging operations to meet production schedules.
• Ensure compliance with SQF, HACCP, FDA, USDA, and all company quality and safety standards.
• Lead, coach, and develop production supervisors and frontline employees to build high-performing teams.
• Monitor production metrics (OEE, yields, downtime, waste) and implement improvements to achieve efficiency goals.
• Collaborate with Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to optimize workflows and resolve production issues.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing and root cause problem-solving.
• Maintain accurate production records, reports, and documentation in ERP/MES systems.
• Manage labor, materials, and resources to control costs while meeting customer demand.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and employee engagement.
• Support training and cross-training efforts to strengthen workforce flexibility.
• Participate in plant planning, audits, and regulatory inspections as required.

Pay:  $70-$90k a year*

* The salary range listed for this position represents the good faith and reasonable minimum and maximum pay for this role at the time of posting.  Actual compensation may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, training, knowledge, education, and overall qualifications.  The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.