Summary/Objective

The Production Manager supervises and directs daily plant operations to assure an efficient and coordinated work effort and to maintain production at the desired level consistent with quality, cost and sanitary standards, meeting production schedules. Oversees all production and sanitation supervisors.  Direct reports include the Production, Sanitation, Processing, and Plant Supply Supervisors.

Essential Functions: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Consistently strives to meet established quality standards.
• Works to ensure that production meets production standards daily.
• Works to ensure weekly production schedules and required service levels are achieved.
• Provides direction to shift supervisors to ensure efficient and effective workflow.
• Takes appropriate actions to maximize production yields.
• Establishes/adapts the necessary tracking systems to ensure that all KPIs are monitored in order to maintain product quality, production standards and costs: key process variables, line efficiencies TRS/TRG (OEE), liquid balances, losses in milk reception, process raw material losses, overweight, labor, packaging materials, energies, etc.
• Formulates action plans for process improvements, cost reduction, quality improvement, work simplification
• Responsible for deploying in the Production Department, continuous improvement TPM activities and methodology as per the Group’s practices.
• Investigates variances vs previous year and vs budget and establishes action plans to ensure yearly productivity targets are met.
• Works closely with the controlling function in ensuring accurate production standards.
• Proposes yearly productions standards based on actual result plus the budgeted improvements.
• Works closely with the Plant Manager in the preparation of Budgets and PLTs, proposing improvement plans, cost reduction projects, capital investment projects, etc.
• Works closely with plant manager to define/adjust the SDU (Plant Master Plan)
• Enforces compliance with all safety rules and regulations taking prompt action concerning any potential safety hazards. 
• Responsible for assigned shift personnel including making hiring decisions, orientation and training of new employees, coaching, feedback, development, recognition, and discipline.
• Follows and enforces plant/company rules/procedures and complies with applicable regulatory standards.
• Schedules personnel to meet production schedules.
• Responsible for positive employee relations through effective interpersonal skills.
• Responsible for shift reports including logs, quality, equipment needs.
• Coordinates with supervisors to ensure smooth transition from shift to shift.
• Oversees and develops training requirements for production employees.
• Responsible for adhering to all quality system requirements.
• Ensures compliance with all regulatory rules and regulations relating to food plant sanitation and the environment.
• Responsible to meet quality, customer and religious requirements for this position.
• Responsible for implementing and following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s) - Group and industry standards
• Must be flexible with work schedule, work overtime and weekends as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position directly manages all salaried employees of the department and is responsible for the performance management and hiring of the employees within that department. This position also indirectly manages all the hourly employees in the production department.

Travel: This position requires <10% travel. Occasionally travel is outside the local area and overnight. 

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or relevant years of working experience in a high-speed manufacturing consumer packaged goods environment
• 5+ years of experience in a food processing environment, preferably in dairy/cheese manufacturing
• 5+ years of supervisory experience
• Lean Manufacturing experience
• Strong computer skills

Preferred Education and Experience

• SAP, OEE, and CIM experience
• Better Process School
• Continuous Improvement knowledge
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish