Job Overview
The Food Production Manager is responsible for overseeing daily food manufacturing operations to ensure products are produced safely, efficiently, and meet quality standards. This role requires strong leadership, operational expertise, and a commitment to food safety and compliance.
· Manage and coordinate all production activities to meet production targets, timelines, and quality standards.
· Lead production schedules, labor planning, and raw material procurement processes.
· Optimize production processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and minimize downtime.
· Develop and own an integrated Production Planning framework that aligns demand forecasts, bills of material, inventory requirements, and capacity planning into a single executable plan, ensuring production meets both short-term sales targets and long-term growth objectives.
· Implement structured reporting and variance analysis (e.g., planned vs. actual production, yield, and efficiency KPIs) to provide leadership with clear visibility into production performance and support data-driven decision making
· Ensure compliance with food safety standards including HACCP, GMP, BRC, SQF, or other applicable systems.
· Work closely with the Quality Assurance team to maintain product quality and respond to non-conformance issues.
· Implement and maintain sanitation and hygiene practices across the production area.
· Supervise and develop a team of production supervisors, line leaders, and operators.
· Provide training, coaching, and performance evaluations to ensure a productive and motivated workforce.
· Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
· Maintain accurate production reports, yields, waste logs, and downtime records.
· Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.
· Participate in audits and inspections (internal and external).
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
· Identify opportunities for process improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, or other methodologies.
· Lead initiatives to implement new technologies or systems to improve productivity and product quality.
· Build and institutionalize standard operating procedures (SOPs) for production planning and execution, ensuring processes are scalable, repeatable, and compliant with food safety regulations as the business expands
· Lead cross-functional improvement projects across procurement, supply chain, and quality teams to strengthen end-to-end visibility, reduce bottlenecks, and create a culture of continuous improvement supported by measurable KPIs
EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Business, or a related field (preferred).
- 5+ years of experience in food production or manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a leadership role.
- Experience in high-volume food manufacturing is highly desirable.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent knowledge of food safety and quality regulations.
- Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment, and continuous improvement practices.
- Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical skills.
- Proficient in production software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- May involve standing, lifting, and working in hot or cold conditions for extended periods.
- Shift work or weekend work may be required depending on production demands.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $80,000.00-$100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Extended health care
Language:
Work Location: In person
