Find & Apply For Production Plant Manager Jobs in Orland, California

T.M. DUCH

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NUT CO., INC. PRODUCTION MANAGER

Orland, California Department Production Reports To Plant Manager Status Full-Time; Hourly/Non-Exempt Wage Range $25.00-$40.00 per hour Schedule Varies by production needs and season Supervises Production employees and crews Location Orland, California Benefits Eligible under company plan terms Position Summary The Production Manager is a hands-on leader responsible for the safe, efficient, and consistent day-to-day operation of the production floor. Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, this position oversees production from cracking and sizing through sorting and final packing for almonds, walnuts, and other nut products. The Production Manager is accountable for production output, yield, labor efficiency, quality, downtime, employee performance, and accurate written reporting. This position works closely with plant management, production employees, Quality Assurance/Food Safety, Maintenance, Shipping, Receiving, and Marketing/Sales to ensure the correct product is produced to customer specifications while protecting food safety, employee safety, product quality, and company assets. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, direct, and monitor daily production across shelling/cracking, sizing, sorting, inspection, packing, and related operations for almonds and walnuts.
• Lead production crews across assigned shifts, including staffing, work assignments, training, coaching, supervision, performance accountability, and enforcement of company policies.
• Review production requirements and coordinate labor, equipment, materials, packaging, and priorities to meet production schedules and customer specifications.
• Complete and verify accurate written production reports for every shift, including pounds in, pounds out, yield by lot, production rates, labor usage, downtime, product loss, and reasons for variances.
• Monitor yield, recovery, and crack-out. Adjust or direct appropriate cracking, sizing, sorter, conveying, and packing settings to maximize good product recovery while minimizing unnecessary rejects, damage, rework, and product loss.
• Balance throughput and yield with food safety, finished-product quality, and customer requirements; recognize when the highest line speed does not produce the best overall result.
• Use production data and direct floor observation to identify bottlenecks, recurring losses, downtime causes, and opportunities to improve pounds per labor hour, yield, line performance, and operating consistency.
• Plan and oversee changeovers between products, sizes, grades, packaging formats, and production runs while minimizing downtime, preventing commingling, and maintaining traceability and product integrity.
• Work with Quality Assurance/Food Safety and Marketing/Sales to understand specifications and confirm that finished products meet applicable customer, quality, labeling, and food-safety requirements.
• Coordinate with Maintenance to identify equipment problems, prioritize repairs, schedule preventive maintenance, verify safe return to service, and minimize production interruptions.
• Enforce production-floor safety requirements, including machine guarding, lockout/tagout, forklift and pedestrian safety, required PPE, safe lifting, housekeeping, sanitation, and emergency procedures.
• Support HACCP, GMP, sanitation, allergen-control, traceability, food-defense, and other food-safety programs. Promptly report and respond to deviations or possible product contamination.
• Investigate production, quality, safety, and employee-performance issues; document findings and implement corrective actions in coordination with the Plant Manager, Quality, Maintenance, Safety, and Human Resources.
• Maintain orderly work areas and ensure equipment, tools, and supplies are used properly and protected from damage or loss.
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, performance evaluations, corrective action, and development of production employees in coordination with management and Human Resources.
• Communicate shift status, unresolved issues, priorities, and production results clearly during shift changes and management meetings.
• Perform other related duties and assist with plant operations as assigned. Required Qualifications
• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience supervising production crews in food processing; tree-nut or similar agricultural-processing experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead employees and hold crews accountable for safety, food safety, quality, production, attendance, and efficiency.
• Working knowledge of nut- or food-processing equipment, including shelling/cracking systems, sizing equipment, optical or laser sorters, conveyors, inspection systems, and packing equipment.
• Understanding of yield and crack-out, including how equipment settings, incoming product condition, sorting decisions, and operating practices affect conversion into saleable finished product.
• Ability to interpret production data, perform basic calculations, recognize trends, troubleshoot operating problems, and implement measurable improvements.
• HACCP training or equivalent food-safety knowledge and experience.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English. Bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred.
• Basic proficiency with email, spreadsheets, production reports, and other standard business or production software.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and communicate professionally with employees and management. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Strong floor leadership, coaching, delegation, conflict-resolution, and accountability skills.
• Mechanical aptitude and practical understanding of processing-line performance and equipment limitations.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, follow-through, and written documentation.
• Ability to prioritize competing production demands and respond calmly to breakdowns, quality concerns, staffing shortages, and changing schedules.
• Ability to collaborate across Production, Quality, Maintenance, Shipping, Receiving, Marketing/Sales, Safety, and Human Resources. Physical Demands and Work Environment
• Regularly works in a food-processing and warehouse environment around moving machinery, forklifts, dust, noise, temperature changes, and seasonal production activity.
• Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods; climb stairs and ladders; bend, stoop, reach, push, pull, and use hands to inspect or operate equipment and controls.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation, and wear required personal protective equipment.
• Must be available to work extended hours, early mornings, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and multiple shifts as production and harvest needs require.

Compensation and Benefits The anticipated wage range for this position is $25.00 to $40.00 per hour. Actual starting pay will be based on relevant experience, qualifications, technical knowledge, demonstrated leadership ability, and internal pay considerations. This position may be eligible for company benefits in accordance with applicable plan documents and company policies.

Pay:

$25.00 - $40.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance On-the-job training Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person