ROLE SUMMARY

We're hiring a hands-on Production Manager to lead plant operations for a food manufacturing plant. You'll manage scheduling, staffing, equipment and quality to meet customer expectations while partnering with QA, R&D and 3PL to drive continuous improvement. A strong emphasis of this role is accurate production data entry and inventory control to support traceability and operational decision-making.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead daily/weekly production planning and execution; maintain and communicate the production schedule. Ensure accurate, timely data entry of production information into the production sheet / ERP system — including start/stop times, actual yields, scrap/waste, labor hours and batch records. Maintain an audit-ready electronic record for each run. Supervise production supervisors, operators and packing staff: hire, train, schedule and manage performance. Enforce

HACCP/PRP/GMP

practices on the floor; coordinate pre-ops, sanitation and QA verifications. Review Certificates of Analysis (COAs), manage suspect lots and work with QA to resolve quality/non-conformance issues. Own inventory accuracy for production-related stock: manage raw material and packaging material levels, record inventory withdrawals and returns, and ensure correct lot assignment and expiration-date tracking. Partner with Inventory/Warehouse teams and 3

PL:

coordinate transfers, replenishments and outbound staging; reconcile any system vs. physical inventory discrepancies and follow up on adjustments. Plan and execute regular cycle counts and support periodic full physical inventories; investigate and resolve variances promptly. Oversee preventive maintenance, equipment pre-ops and downtime reduction; ensure maintenance records are documented. Partner with R&D on scale-ups, product transfers and troubleshooting during ramp-up. Track production and inventory KPIs (on-time production, inventory accuracy, days of inventory, labor $/lb, yield/waste, OEE) and provide regular reports to leadership. Drive continuous-improvement initiatives based on data. Support internal and external audits and ensure traceability and data integrity requirements are met.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

5+ years' experience in food manufacturing or co-packing with at least 2 years in a supervisory/manager role. Hands-on experience in blending/packaging/line operations; spice/herb manufacturing experience preferred.

Proven experience with inventory management:

cycle counts, physical inventory, lot tracking, expiration control and discrepancy reconciliation. Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate production and inventory data in an ERP / WMS or production tracking system and to produce clear reports. Comfort using barcode scanners, handheld devices or WMS interfaces. Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic formulas) and ability to create/interpret production and inventory reports. Strong working knowledge of HACCP, PRPs/GMP; familiarity with GFSI standards (BRCGS, SQF, FSSC) is a plus. Experience supporting internal audits and corrective-action programs. Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills. Proficiency with production scheduling/ERP and Excel. Ability to work onsite, lift up to ~50 lbs, and work flexible hours during peak/audit periods.

PREFERRED / CERTIFICATIONS

Forklift certification, OSHA training, Lean / Six Sigma experience.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

(SUGGESTED) $90,000-$115,000/year DOE + performance bonus Medical, dental and vision insurance 401(k) plan with company match Paid time off (vacation, sick time) and paid holidays Support for professional development / certification Career growth within a growing co-pack and R&D environment

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

On-site, plant-floor role: standing for long periods, frequent walking, exposure to dust/noise. PPE required. Lifting up to ~50 lbs; repetitive motions and exposure to production machinery.

Pay:

$90,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person