Production Manager

Production Manager

Veselka Commissary is seeking a full-time production manager.

Veselka is a 3rd generation, family-owned Ukrainian restaurant and New York City institution that has served Ukrainian comfort food for more than 70 years. Known for our handmade pierogi, borscht, cabbage rolls, and other traditional specialties, Veselka has built a reputation for quality, consistency, and hospitality across restaurant, wholesale, and retail channels.

As Veselka continues to expand its commissary, wholesale, and CPG operations, we are seeking an experienced Production Manager to support and oversee daily food production operations from our Williamsburg production facility.

The Production Manager is a hands-on operational leadership role responsible for overseeing the daily execution of commissary kitchen production and managing day-to-day back-of-house operations within a high-volume food manufacturing environment. This position provides direct oversight of production staff, kitchen workflows, food safety practices, and daily operational execution to ensure production runs efficiently, safely, and according to Veselka's standards.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, process-driven, and experienced in high-volume production environments, with strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of kitchen operations, labor management, food safety, and production workflows.

Production Managers work closely with senior kitchen leadership to support inventory systems, ordering, operational efficiencies, and regulatory compliance initiatives while maintaining direct supervision of daily production activities and staff performance.

Key ResponsibilitiesDaily Production Operations

• Oversee daily commissary production activities to ensure efficient execution of all restaurant, wholesale, and CPG production needs.
• Direct and supervise kitchen workflows, cooking, cooling, packing, storage, and fulfillment activities.
• Ensure production schedules, pack-outs, and operational timelines are completed accurately and efficiently.
• Maintain organization, cleanliness, and operational discipline throughout the facility.

Team Leadership

• Lead and supervise hourly commissary employees across multiple departments.
• Provide hands-on leadership, direction, coaching, and accountability to production staff.
• Reinforce company standards related to urgency, professionalism, sanitation, food quality, and workplace organization.
• Assist with training and onboarding of new BOH employees.

Inventory & Operational Support

• Assist with inventory management and ordering.
• Support accurate inventory tracking and organization throughout dry storage, refrigeration, and freezer areas.
• Work collaboratively with senior kitchen leadership to identify opportunities for operational efficiency and waste reduction.

Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Support compliance initiatives related to USDA, FDA, HACCP, SQF, and New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets standards and requirements.
• Ensure all food handling, cooling, storage, labeling, and sanitation procedures are consistently followed by staff.
• Reinforce SOP adherence and maintain a strong culture of food safety throughout daily operations.

Quality Control

• Monitor product consistency, portioning, appearance, storage temperatures and overall quality throughout production.
• Identify and address quality issues before products reach restaurants or customers.
• Assist with implementation and maintenance of quality control systems and production standards.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience in high-volume food production environments such as commissary kitchens, food manufacturing facilities, catering operations, wholesale production, or multi-unit restaurant groups.
• Previous experience supervising kitchen or production teams in a fast-paced environment required.
• Experience working within USDA, FDA, HACCP, or SQF-regulated environments strongly preferred.

Operational Skills

• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities with the ability to manage multiple production priorities simultaneously.
• Understanding of inventory systems, kitchen workflows, food costing, and production scheduling.
• Ability to identify inefficiencies and maintain organized operational systems.

Food Safety Knowledge

• Strong understanding of food safety, sanitation, cooling procedures, traceability, and quality assurance standards.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance requirements within food production environments.
• NYC food handlers certification.

Leadership & Communication

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to motivate and manage production teams effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm, organized, and solutions-oriented in a fast-paced environment.

Culinary Passion

• Appreciation for traditional Ukrainian cuisine and a commitment to maintaining Veselka's standards of quality and consistency.

Why Join Veselka?

• Be part of one of New York City's most iconic and historic restaurant brands.
• Help support the growth of a rapidly expanding commissary and food production operation.
• Work alongside a passionate team committed to quality, hospitality, and operational excellence.
• Competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for long-term growth within the company.

Compensation: Salary ($75,000.00 - $80,000.00)

Required Skills: Operational Leadership, Hands On Management, Team Supervision, Team Collaboration, Coaching and Accountability, Coaching and Mentoring, Training and Onboarding, Inventory Management