Production Manager

PRODUCTION MANAGER IN FREEPORT

Date Posted:

Thursday, April 2, 2026 ? Job Snapshot

Employee Type:

Permanent

Location:

Illinois , Freeport Job Description A well-established and growing dairy manufacturer is seeking a hands-on Production Manager to lead operations at one of its Wisconsin facilities in Green County. This company has been in business for over 40 years and is experiencing significant expansion, including additional production lines and facility growth. This role is ideal for a floor-focused leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and enjoys mentoring supervisors and developing strong production teams. Position Overview The Production Manager will be responsible for overseeing daily production operations, ensuring safety, quality, efficiency, and performance standards are consistently achieved. This individual will work cross-functionally with maintenance, quality, sanitation, and warehouse teams to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement. Key Responsibilities Lead and manage daily production operations to meet safety, quality, and throughput targets Oversee production scheduling, staffing, and labor efficiency Monitor KPIs including yield, downtime, waste, and cost control Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, OSHA, and regulatory requirements Drive continuous improvement initiatives and operational efficiencies Develop, coach, and mentor supervisors and frontline leaders Promote a strong safety culture and positive employee engagement Partner with senior leadership on operational planning and performance goals Qualifications 5+ years of production leadership experience in dairy or food manufacturing Experience leading teams in a regulated, high-volume environment Strong understanding of food safety and quality systems Demonstrated ability to improve production performance and manage labor costs Experience with Lean Manufacturing or continuous improvement preferred Hands-on leadership style with a floor-oriented approach Why This Opportunity? Stable, growing company with long-term expansion plans Strong leadership team and collaborative culture Competitive compensation and benefits package Opportunity to make a measurable operational impact! Contact Alana Seddon, alana.seddon@gogpac.com or 785-783-6703

Keywords:

food manufacturing, dairy, production, manager, leadership, cheese All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.