Production Manager

Location : Charles Austin Site - Chicago, IL (4841 S California Ave.)
Schedule : Full-Time | 6-Day Work Week
Salary : $68,000 – $80,000

Key Responsibilities

The Production Manager is responsible for leading and supervising a workforce of 70+ employees in a USDA-FSIS inspected meat processing facility. This role oversees daily production operations, including workforce scheduling, labor allocation, production planning, work assignments, performance management, employee coaching, corrective action, and discipline. The position plays an active role in hiring, onboarding, termination recommendations, and providing input on employee compensation and promotional decisions.

The Production Manager exercises independent judgment in managing staffing levels, production priorities, labor efficiency, safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Responsibilities include opening and closing the facility, coordinating production startup activities, maintaining adequate supplies and inventory levels, and ensuring production goals are met while maintaining established quality standards. Key performance metrics include labor utilization, labor efficiency, production output, and overall operational performance.

This role is accountable for maintaining compliance with all applicable USDA, HACCP, SSOP, GMP, food safety, sanitation, public health, OSHA, and workplace safety requirements. The Production Supervisor is responsible for ensuring a safe, clean, and compliant work environment, addressing operational issues, and identifying, resolving, or escalating maintenance concerns as needed.

Once fully trained, the Production Manager has the authority to stop or suspend production activities when necessary to address safety, quality, food safety, or regulatory concerns and must promptly communicate such actions to management.

This is a highly visible, floor-focused leadership position requiring approximately 95% of working time to be spent on the production floor supervising employees, monitoring operations, enforcing safety and compliance standards, and supporting production execution. While administrative duties are required, the primary responsibility of the role is the direct management and supervision of production employees and day-to-day production operations. Reliable attendance, punctuality, and consistent onsite leadership are essential functions of this position.

Production Operations

• Supervise daily production activities to meet output, quality, and efficiency targets
• Monitor production schedules and adjust staffing or workflows as needed
• Ensure proper use of equipment, materials, and labor resources
• Identify and resolve production issues to minimize downtime

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop production associates and leads
• Manage scheduling, attendance, performance reviews, and disciplinary actions
• Foster a positive, safe, and high-performance work environment
• Conduct shift meetings and communicate daily goals and expectations

Food Safety & Quality Compliance

• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, AQL standards, and internal quality processes
• Maintain sanitation standards and support audits/inspections
• Partner with QA to address and resolve quality or safety concerns

Operational Efficiency & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor KPIs such as throughput, yield, and labor efficiency
• Identify process improvements and support Lean or continuous improvement initiatives
• Reduce waste and improve production consistency

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with warehouse, logistics, and QA teams to ensure smooth operations
• Communicate production status, challenges, and updates to leadership

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of supervisory experience in production, manufacturing, or food processing environments
• Experience leading teams in a fast-paced, multi-shift operation
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards and quality control processes
• Ability to manage production schedules and meet performance targets
• Familiarity with ERP systems and production reporting tools preferred
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred or required (adjust based on need)
• Ability to work a 6-day schedule with flexible hours

Conexus Food Solutions does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status). To be considered for permanent employment, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.