Production Supervisor

Who are we? Fresca Foods, located in Louisville just outside Boulder, Colorado, is a dynamic force in the natural foods industry where innovation fuels progress and creative ideas transform into future food lifestyles. For over two decades, we have partnered with global CPG companies and visionary entrepreneurs as both a natural foods manufacturing partner and a vertically integrated operator of natural food brands—working together to redefine traditional food categories and revolutionize the food system with a strong focus on safety and excellence. Combining the high-energy spirit of a startup with the stability and opportunity of a larger organization, Fresca Foods is committed to integrity, producing high-quality, sustainable food that promotes joy, well-being, and environmental stewardship. As a leading Boulder County employer and recipient of industry recognition, we are equally dedicated to community service and to creating abundant opportunities for motivated individuals who share our passion for great food and for shaping the future of our company. As part of our continued growth, Fresca Foods is launching a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility featuring high-speed production lines and advanced automation. With production slated to begin in October, we are actively building our team now—bringing in key talent early to support equipment installation, process development, and operational readiness. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a foundational team, helping shape the systems, culture, and long-term success of a new facility from the ground up. This is a permanent role, designed to grow with the facility and play a critical part in its ongoing success. Position Overview The Production Supervisor is responsible for leading and developing self-directed, high-performance work system (SDWS) teams in a highly automated, high-speed bakery environment. This role drives operational excellence across production, maintenance, sanitation, and continuous improvement to ensure world-class performance in safety, quality, delivery, and cost. The Supervisor operates as a coach and systems leader, building team capability, ownership, and accountability while optimizing advanced manufacturing technologies including automated ingredient handling, chocolate enrobing systems, and robotic packaging lines. Essential Functions Team Leadership & High-Performance Work Systems (SDWS) Lead, coach, and develop self-directed teams to own line performance, decision-making, and problem-solving Build team capability across operations, autonomous maintenance, sanitation, and quality systems Drive a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous skill development Facilitate daily direction setting (DDS), tier meetings, and visual management systems Own workforce planning including hiring, onboarding, training, and succession development Actively manage performance through real-time coaching, feedback, and formal review processes Improve retention through engagement, capability building, and strong team culture Operational Excellence & Automation Leadership Lead day-to-day operations of highly automated, high-speed bakery lines Ensure optimal performance of advanced systems including: Automated ingredient delivery systems, chocolate enrobing technology, robotic packaging and palletizing Partner closely with Maintenance to drive equipment reliability and uptime Champion Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) principles, including autonomous maintenance ownership by operators Monitor and drive key performance indicators (KPIs): OEE, throughput, yield, waste, and labor efficiency Rapidly respond to production issues using structured problem-solving tools (RCA, 5-Why, etc.) Food Safety, Quality & Sanitation Ensure strict adherence to all food safety, SQF, and quality standards Build team ownership of food safety through training, auditing, and daily accountability Partner with QA and Sanitation to ensure effective pre-operational readiness and hygienic design practices Lead immediate response and escalation when food safety risk is identified, including line stoppage if necessary Reinforce a "quality at the source" mindset across all team members Human Safety & Compliance Champion a zero-incident safety culture through proactive hazard identification and risk mitigation Ensure compliance with all safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements Lead incident investigations and drive corrective/preventative actions Build team ownership of safety through engagement and behavioral-based safety practices Continuous Improvement & Cost Management Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on waste reduction, efficiency, and process capability Lead and support kaizen events and cross-functional improvement projects Utilize data and performance metrics to identify gaps and implement sustainable solutions Own labor and cost center performance; align staffing and resources to demand Drive standardization and adherence to best practices across shifts and lines Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Maintenance, QA, Sanitation, Engineering, and Supply Chain to deliver business results Support new product launches, process changes, and equipment implementation Work closely with Production Planning to align schedules, staffing, and materials Act as a key connector between functions to remove barriers and improve flow Education, Experience, Skills & Knowledge 5-7 years of progressive supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment, with at least 3+ years in high-speed, automated production (food manufacturing strongly preferred) 3+ years of direct experience leading high-performance work systems (HPWS) or self-directed teams, including demonstrated ownership of team-based decision-making, accountability structures, and performance outcomes 3-5 years of hands-on experience with automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing systems, including troubleshooting, optimization, and operator development 3+ years of applied experience with TPM and continuous improvement methodologies, including autonomous maintenance, centerlining, defect handling, and CILs, with working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and 5S principles in a production setting Strong understanding of food safety systems (SQF or equivalent) Experience in automated manufacturing software like Redzone or equivalent. Solid understanding and ability to utilize ERP systems like SAP Ability and experience extracting data, analyzing and then building plans for improvement Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams including Operations, Maintenance, QA, and Sanitation Strong analytical capability; ability to translate data into action Effective communication and coaching skills at all levels of the organization Proficient in Microsoft Office and production/ERP systems Business degree or equivalent experience. Engineering degree preferred. Work Environment Ability to work a standard 8-hour supervisory shift in a fast-paced, high-speed manufacturing environment, with flexibility to support off-shift operations, weekends, or extended hours as business needs require Regular standing, walking, and interaction with automated equipment Exposure to moderate noise levels and food manufacturing conditions (including allergens such as peanuts and tree nuts) Benefits Health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, pet insurance, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, paid holidays, life insurance and short term disability insurance, annual bonus potential At Fresca, we don't just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. Fresca Foods is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to equal consideration regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. In addition, Fresca Foods is committed to equal pay for equal work. The pay range indicated in this job posting represents the low and high end of the hiring range for this job. Although actual pay may vary and may be above or below this range, generally speaking, offers will typically be made in the bottom half of the listed range. The amount offered will take into consideration a candidate's education, training, and experience, as well as the position's work location, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment. Please, no third party inquiries.

Pay:

$70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) 4% Match 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): Briefly describe your most relevant experience leading teams in a high-speed, automated manufacturing environment. What types of systems, team structures (e.g., self-directed/HPWS), and continuous improvement methods have you worked with? Do you currently reside in Colorado, and is the commute to Louisville feasible for you given your current location? What are your minimum annual salary expectations?

Education:

Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

supervision in a manufacturing environment: 5 years (Required) supervision in high-speed, automated production: 3 years (Required) leading high-performance work systems/self-directed teams: 3 years (Required) automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing systems: 3 years (Required) TPM and continuous improvement methodologies: 3 years (Required)

Work Location:

In person