Hot Zone Production Manager

The Hot Zone Production Manager plays a key role in executing daily operations within the Central Kitchen, ensuring production targets, quality standards, and food safety requirements are consistently met while supporting our Grow Every Day purpose of building skills, confidence, and connection through daily work. Reporting to the Operations Manager, this role is hands‑on and focused on leading direct reports and associates on the floor, troubleshooting day‑to‑day issues, and maintaining smooth, efficient workflows in a fast‑paced, high‑volume food production environment. This position is ideal for a strong people leader with solid food operations experience who thrives in execution, coaching teams, and creating opportunities for associates to learn, contribute, and grow every day while maintaining high operational standards. Production & Daily Operations Utilize strong culinary knowledge to oversee food preparation and large‑scale production processes. Manage industrial kitchen equipment including combi ovens, deep fryers, and other large‑scale cooking systems. Supervise meat room operations, including handling raw meat products and maintaining production standards in cold‑temperature environments. Maintain temperature logs by routinely documenting equipment and storage temperatures to ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards. Maintain knowledge of Kosher requirements or willingness to learn, along with a strong understanding of allergen awareness, declaration, and separation procedures. Supervise daily production activities including order execution, batching, food preparation, packaging, and staging for shipment. Ensure recipes, product specifications, production schedules, and standard operating procedures are followed accurately, while escalating improvement opportunities to the Operations Manager. Coordinate with other departments to ensure alignment and smooth daily execution. Support special production needs including promotions, holidays, demos, and new item rollouts. Monitor labor utilization and productivity to maintain efficient staffing levels. Team Leadership & Development Lead and support direct reports and associates through active floor presence and clear communication. Provide real‑time coaching, feedback, and direction to maintain performance and engagement. Assist with training new direct reports and associates on processes, safety, and quality expectations. Partner with Operations Manager to address attendance, performance, and conduct concerns, escalating corrective action when appropriate. Foster a respectful, inclusive work environment that supports teamwork and accountability. Food Safety, Quality & Compliance Enforce all SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and SSOPs (Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures). Enforce sanitation, food safety, and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards across all assigned areas. Ensure proper food handling, allergen controls, and temperature monitoring are followed. Partner with QA to address quality issues, audits, and corrective actions. Identify and report equipment or facility issues that could impact safety or production. Actively model and reinforce a safety‑first mindset. Execution & Problem Solving Respond quickly to production disruptions, staffing gaps, or process challenges. Help identify root causes of operational issues and support continuous improvement efforts. #J-18808-Ljbffr