Position Summary

The Production Manager oversees daily operations within the frozen food manufacturing plant to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production. This role is responsible for managing production staff, optimizing workflows, maintaining compliance with food safety standards, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives to meet production targets and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management

• Plan, schedule, and oversee daily production activities to meet output, quality, and cost targets.

• Monitor and adjust production processes to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime.

• Ensure all products meet specifications and quality standards before release.

Leadership & Staff Management

• Lead, train, mentor, and evaluate production supervisors, line leads, and hourly associates.

• Maintain proper staffing levels and coordinate labor to meet production demands.

• Promote a positive, safe, and collaborative work environment.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to all food safety programs (HACCP, GMPs, SQF/BRC, sanitation standards).

• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies (FDA, USDA, local health authorities).

• Participate in audits, inspections, and corrective action planning.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce waste, increase yields, and improve throughput.

• Support Lean Manufacturing, 5S, root cause analysis, and other CI methodologies.

• Track KPIs (OEE, labor efficiency, waste, downtime) and implement action plans to improve performance.

Equipment & Facility Coordination

• Work closely with Maintenance to ensure optimal performance of equipment and timely repairs.

• Support equipment commissioning, upgrades, and capital projects as needed.

• Ensure production areas meet cold-chain and frozen-storage requirements.

Inventory & Materials Management

• Coordinate with Supply Chain/Procurement to ensure availability of raw materials, packaging, and ingredients.

• Monitor material usage, yield variances, and waste levels.

• Ensure accurate reporting of production data and inventory.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

• 5+ years of production management experience in food manufacturing, preferably frozen or cold-chain environments.

• Strong understanding of HACCP, GMPs, and food safety regulations.

Skills & Competencies

• Proven leadership and team-building abilities.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies (certification a plus).

• Familiarity with ERP/MES systems and production reporting tools.

• Excellent communication, organization, and decision-making skills.

Working Conditions

• Work performed primarily in a frozen or cold-storage production environment (exposure to temperatures between –10°F and 40°F).

• Ability to stand, walk, and supervise production lines for extended periods.

• Required use of PPE per food safety and facility standards.

• Occasional weekend or off-shift work based on production needs.