Production Manager

Overview:

The Production Manager oversees the Toppings and Bakery department, ensuring consistent processes, food safety compliance, and shift-to-shift alignment. The role requires significant time on the production floor to supervise operations, coach shift leaders, and ensure that safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are consistently achieved.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Safety & Food Compliance

• Enforce a safety-first culture across all shifts, ensuring compliance with OSHA, GMP, and company policies.
• Conduct daily safety inspections and ensure corrective actions are taken immediately.
• Partner with QA to ensure toppings operations meet all food safety, allergen control, and sanitation requirements.
• Actively support USDA, FDA, SQF, and customer audits by ensuring readiness on every shift.

Production Oversight

• Manage production activities across all shifts, ensuring schedules are met without compromising safety or quality.
• Maintain strong floor presence (70%+) to observe processes, troubleshoot issues, and provide hands-on support.
• Coordinate with Planning to ensure smooth execution of product runs, including line setups, changeovers, and special projects.
• Monitor waste, downtime, and output, adjusting labor and processes to maximize efficiency.

Cross-Shift Alignment

• Facilitate shift handovers, ensuring accurate communication of production issues, corrective actions, and performance results.
• Implement standardized processes and reporting across shifts to ensure consistency.
• Track recurring issues across shifts, document corrective actions, and ensure follow-through.

Performance & KPI Management

• Monitor key performance metrics for toppings operations, including yield, waste, downtime, and labor efficiency.
• Analyze variances and implement strategies to close performance gaps.
• Drive accountability with shift supervisors and leads for meeting KPI targets.
• Collaborate with Continuous Improvement and Maintenance to implement sustainable solutions.

Employee Development & Leadership

• Supervise and coach toppings shift supervisors, team leads, and operators across all shifts.
• Conduct performance evaluations, provide ongoing coaching, and deliver corrective action when necessary.
• Lead employee training initiatives, ensuring consistent understanding of SOPs and quality requirements.
• Promote cross-training and workforce flexibility to support changing production demands.

Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

• Lead or support CI initiatives specific to toppings operations (5S, Kaizen, Standard Work).
• Conduct root cause analysis of chronic production issues and ensure corrective actions are applied across all shifts.
• Foster employee involvement in continuous improvement activities and idea generation.

Emergency & Incident Management

• Act as the primary toppings department leader during incidents or emergencies.
• Coordinate safety measures, communicate with senior leadership, and oversee recovery actions.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Business, Engineering, or related field (preferred). Equivalent supervisory experience will be considered.
• 3–5 years of experience in bakery or food production, with proven success managing multiple shifts.
• Strong knowledge of bakery manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other CI methodologies.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively across shifts and departments.
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) a plus.
• Proficiency in ERP/CMMS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Demands

• Frequent Movement: Regularly required to move around the facility to inspect equipment, supervise activities, and monitor the work environment. This includes walking, standing, and occasionally climbing ladders or stairs.
• Manual Dexterity: Frequently required to use hands and fingers to handle, operate, or feel tools and equipment. This may include tasks such as turning screws, operating machinery, and manipulating small components.
• Lifting and Carrying: Occasionally required to lift, move, and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds, including tools, equipment parts, and materials necessary for maintenance tasks.
• Safety Awareness: Constant vigilance to maintain personal safety and the safety of the team. This includes wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and adhering to all safety protocols and guidelines.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position works in an office and a manufacturing environment with variable temperature and loud noises from machinery and equipment alarms.The incumbent will be exposed to loud noises and alarms from equipment and machinery.