Production Manager – Food Manufacturing
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations across first and second shift for a growing food production environment.
This is an excellent opportunity for a strong production leader who enjoys being on the floor, developing people, solving problems, and keeping a fast-moving operation organized and on schedule. The Production Manager will oversee the production process from scheduling through execution, ensuring customer orders are completed accurately, efficiently, safely, and according to established food safety and quality standards.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable balancing production schedules, people management, equipment needs, quality requirements, and changing priorities. This position requires someone who can lead by example and create consistency and accountability across multiple shifts.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead daily production operations across first and second shift.
- Develop and manage production schedules based on customer orders, inventory availability, staffing, equipment capacity, and required ship dates.
- Monitor production progress throughout the day and proactively adjust schedules when equipment, staffing, materials, or other issues arise.
- Coordinate with inventory, blending, quality control, warehouse, and office teams to ensure smooth order execution.
- Verify production quantities, completed orders, packaging requirements, lot information, case counts, pallet counts, and other required documentation.
- Maintain clear communication between shifts and establish effective shift-transition procedures.
- Ensure production employees operate machinery safely and efficiently.
- Maintain compliance with applicable food safety, sanitation, GMP, HACCP, quality-control, and OSHA requirements.
- Monitor production costs, productivity, downtime, and operating efficiency.
- Support preventative maintenance efforts and promptly communicate equipment issues.
- Maintain organized production rooms, staging areas, equipment, and workspaces.
- Assist with hiring, training, coaching, development, performance management, and work assignments for production employees.
- Develop cross-training and backup plans to maintain production continuity.
- Track production and machine performance metrics and identify opportunities to improve efficiency.
- Build a collaborative culture across both shifts while maintaining consistent expectations and accountability.
- Serve as the final operational review/sign-off for completed production orders.
The original description specifically emphasizes production scheduling, cost control, food safety, equipment care, employee development, order accuracy, and coordination between shifts.
Qualifications
- 2–3+ years of experience leading production or operations in a manufacturing environment.
- Food manufacturing or related production experience strongly preferred.
- Strong leadership and people-management skills.
- Excellent organization, time-management, and attention-to-detail skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Basic computer and mathematical skills.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to develop backup plans when production challenges arise.
- Reliable, punctual, and comfortable working independently.
- Ability to work extended hours, evenings, weekends, or holidays when operationally necessary.
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
- Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
Physical Requirements
This position requires extended periods of standing and walking, as well as bending, climbing, stretching, and handling production tools and materials. Must be able to move up to 50 pounds.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Compensation based on experience
- Opportunity for long-term growth and advancement