Site Manager – Food Manufacturing Facility (Atwater, CA)

Position Overview:We are a purpose-led organization championing accessible nutrition and building a brighter future for people through the goodness of food. Our culture is driven by core values—respect, inclusion, integrity, excellence, teamwork, and innovation—that transform our work into a meaningful journey toward collective success.

We are seeking a strategic, results-driven Site Manager to lead and oversee the daily operations of our frozen food manufacturing facility in Atwater, CA. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food processing and high-speed packaging production, proven leadership experience managing large teams, and a commitment to maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and efficiency.

This role is full-time onsite and requires occasional travel to corporate headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Operations Management

• Direct, coordinate, and oversee all plant operations including production, sanitation, maintenance, warehouse, and shipping.

• Ensure on-time delivery, cost targets, and quality standards are consistently achieved.

• Monitor production metrics (OEE, yield, throughput, downtime) and drive corrective actions.

• Partner with Planning and Supply Chain to align scheduling, resource planning, and materials availability.

• Manage plant budget, monitor KPIs, and control operational costs to maximize productivity and profitability.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a strong safety culture with full compliance to OSHA, EPA, FDA, USDA, and internal standards.

• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure food safety and adherence to product specifications.

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for safety and quality issues.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop production managers and supervisors, fostering accountability and high performance.

• Drive employee engagement through effective communication, visibility, and recognition.

• Oversee workforce planning, staffing, and training in partnership with HR.

Continuous Improvement

• Implement operational improvements using Lean, Six Sigma, and World Class Manufacturing principles.

• Lead Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and cost-reduction initiatives.

• Build a data-driven decision-making environment using KPIs and production reporting tools.

Strategic & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, HR, and other site leaders on operational priorities.

• Contribute to plant-wide strategies, capital projects, and long-term capacity planning.

• Work closely with supply chain and demand planning to meet production targets, minimize downtime, and optimize labor and materials.

Qualifications

Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, with at least 3+ years in a senior or multi-line management role.

• Background in frozen food, CPG, food & beverage, or chemical manufacturing preferred.

• Expertise in production systems, labor management, and high-throughput operations.

• Strong knowledge of GMP, HACCP, USDA/FDA regulations, and plant safety standards.

• Proven success implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or CI frameworks.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and team-building skills.

• ERP, production planning, and manufacturing technologies experience (MES, OEE tracking).

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, or related field required.

• Advanced degree preferred.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work in a cold/freezer production environment.

• Physical ability to stand, walk, lift (up to 15 lbs), and move throughout production floor.

• Willingness to work occasional weekends/evenings and travel 5–10%.

What You’ll Bring

• Passion for a purpose-driven career.

• Ability to cultivate inclusive, respectful environments that empower employee growth.

• Strong strategic mindset and ability to lead with transparency and accountability.

• Commitment to fostering teamwork and collaboration to achieve shared goals.

Compensation & Benefits

Hiring Pay Scale: $170,000 – $190,000 (California-based role)

Compensation will be determined based on experience, education, and accomplishments. Pay scales are reviewed regularly and adjusted as appropriate.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.