Production Manager - Food Safety & SQF Leadership
hace 17 días
Elizabeth
Job Description A growing food manufacturing operation within a temperature-controlled production environment is seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead day-to-day production activities, supervise production teams, and stabilize manufacturing operations during a period of growth and operational realignment. This role is ideal for a hands-on leader with strong food manufacturing experience who can bring structure, accountability, and consistency to production while working closely with Quality, Warehouse, and Maintenance teams. The Production Manager will play a key role in aligning production output with demand, improving efficiency, and developing supervisors. Key Responsibilities:Production Planning & Execution: • Plan, schedule, and oversee daily and weekly production activities based on demand forecasts and inventory levels, • Ensure production targets are met while maintaining quality, safety, and efficiency standards, • Monitor production flow to prevent overproduction, bottlenecks, or downtimeTeam Leadership & Supervision:, • Directly manage Production Supervisors and production staff across shifts, • Establish clear expectations, standard work practices, and accountability, • Coach and develop supervisors to ensure consistent leadership and executionProcess & Operational Improvement:, • Enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) and production workflows, • Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements, • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve production issuesCross-Functional Coordination:, • Partner closely with Quality Assurance to ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory standards, • Coordinate with Warehouse and Logistics to align production with storage capacity and distribution needs, • Work with Maintenance to minimize downtime and support preventive maintenance effortsFood Safety & SQF Responsibilities:, • Actively support and maintain compliance within an SQF-certified food manufacturing environment, working closely with Quality and Operations teams., • Participate directly in SQF audit preparation, execution, and follow-up, including documentation review, corrective actions, and production-floor readiness., • Ensure production teams consistently follow SQF, GMP, HACCP, sanitation, allergen control, and food safety procedures., • Partner with Quality to identify gaps, implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), and reinforce food safety culture across shifts., • Train, coach, and hold production supervisors and operators accountable for food safety and SQF-related practices., • Serve as a key operational contact during internal and external audits, supporting auditors with real-time production insights and documentation as needed., • Ensure compliance with food safety standards, GMPs, and workplace safety regulations, • Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvementReporting & Communication:, • Track and report key production metrics including output, labor efficiency, downtime, and waste, • Communicate production status, challenges, and improvement opportunities to leadershipQualifications & Experience:, • Minimum 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a production management role, • Proven experience managing production supervisors and hourly teams, • Strong understanding of food safety, quality standards, and manufacturing best practices, • Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, • Strong organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills, • Ability to balance hands-on involvement with managerial oversightPreferred Qualifications:, • Experience in frozen, refrigerated, or high-volume food production environments, • Familiarity with production planning, inventory coordination, and demand alignment, • Proven experience working in an SQF-certified food manufacturing facility., • Demonstrated hands-on involvement in SQF audits, including preparation, corrective actions, and ongoing compliance from a production leadership perspective., • Strong working knowledge of SQF Code, HACCP principles, GMPs, sanitation programs, and allergen controls., • Ability to translate food safety and SQF requirements into practical, executable production-floor processes., • Experience partnering closely with Quality teams while maintaining ownership of production performance.Preferred:, • SQF Practitioner certification or prior designation as a site SQF lead (preferred but not required)., • Take ownership of production operations during a critical growth phase, • Make a measurable impact on efficiency, structure, and team development, • Grow into expanded operational leadership as the organization continues to scale