Job Summary: The Production Manager is responsible for overseeing all manufacturing operations within the dairy plant, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality production of dairy products. This role leads production teams, drives operational performance, maintains compliance with food safety and regulatory standards, and supports continuous improvement initiatives to meet customer and business objectives.

Essential Functions

• Manage daily plant production activities
• Ensuring all safety and health standards are met to keep an organization accident-free
• Ensure production schedules are achieved while meeting quality, safety, and cost targets.
• Monitor equipment performance, plant efficiency, downtime, and labor utilization.
• Coordinate with maintenance, quality assurance, warehouse, and supply chain teams to optimize operations.
• Lead, coach, and develop superintendents, supervisors, and hourly production staff to drive performance, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Communicating regularly with upper management regarding problems or issues impacting production
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Must obtain medical clearance to use respirator and maintain certification.
• Conduct performance evaluations, training, and disciplinary actions as needed.
• Manage staffing levels and labor scheduling to support operational demands.
• Support audits, inspections, and corrective action programs.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to investigate product deviations and implement preventive measures.
• Support and enforce SQF / QA, GMP, Safety policies and procedures, and production needs. "Food Safety and Quality" are the responsibilities of this position.
• Support plant manager and cover in his/her absence
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Lead:

• Clearly communicate the company's vision & goals and how the team's work contributes to them.
• Set a positive example through their own work ethic, attitude, and commitment to quality.
• Develop and empower team members by delegating tasks effectively and providing opportunities for growth and development.

Guide:

• Provide clear instructions and expectations, along with the "why", for tasks and projects.
• Offer regular feedback and coaching to help team members improve their skills and performance.
• Foster a sense of teamwork and shared purpose, emphasizing that the team is stronger together.

Support:

• Recognize and celebrate team accomplishments and individual contributions.
• Advocate for the team's needs and concerns, up, down, and across the organization.
• Encourage and support the team to challenge the status quo, to identify and suggest process improvements, and to embrace innovation.

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Strong leadership and team development skills
• Knowledge of dairy manufacturing processes and food safety systems
• Excellent problem solving/decision making skills
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Microsoft office proficiency
• Ability to work in a fast paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment
• Must demonstrate good judgement when carrying out duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree is preferred - may substitute 5 years of work experience
• A minimum of five years' combined experience in the manufacturing industry and preferably in a supervisor-level role is required.
• Experience in dairy processing, pasteurization, cultured products, cheese, fluid milk, milk powders or ice cream manufacturing preferred.

Language Skills

English is required as the written and spoken language.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

CA State Pasteurizers License and Samplers and Weighers License

Driving Requirements

Must possess or be able to acquire a state issued Driver's License.

Equipment

Personal protective equipment including, but not limited to: hearing protection, bump caps, hair and beard nets, gloves, and safety glasses must be used in the performance of duties will be required when working in our manufacturing sites.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The company will make reasonable accommodations that do not cause an undue hardship if such an accommodation enables individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. This role is primarily working in a man manufacturing plant an office setting; temperature extremes can be experienced within the manufacturing site, and on occasion this position will travel to other ites.

Physical Demands

The physical requirements outlined here represent those necessary for successful performance of this position's core responsibilities. Upon request, the company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these fundamental job duties, provided such accommodations do not create an undue burden on the organization.

• Sitting/Standing/Walking: Stands, walks and sits during completion of job responsibilities.
• Lifting/Carrying: Occasional lifting requirements as job demands. Must be able to lift a minimum of 40 lbs. on an occasional basis.
• Pushing/Pulling: Occasional pushing or pulling requirements.
• Bending/Stooping: Occasional bending and stooping requirements.
• Squatting/Kneeling/Crawling: Occasional kneeling or crawling requirements.
• Twisting/Turning: Ongoing twisting or turning requirements.
• Climbing/Balancing: Climbing and balancing is required during plant inspections, and other related job requirements.
• Reaching: Ongoing reaching requirements associated with job requirements.
• Grasping/Manipulating: Grasping and manipulating of papers, objects, and equipment will be required. Ability to keyboard for data input will be required on an ongoing basis.

The pay range is listed below and represents a good faith estimate upon hire. The final offer will depend on factors such as the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications.