Production Manager

Location Portage, WI Salary $95,000.00 USD Annually - $105,000.00 USD Annually Production Manager Overview Leads day-to-day production operations in a ready-to-eat (RTE) and frozen food manufacturing facility, executing production across IQF, frozen bowls, sauce chips, and high-speed packaging while ensuring food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Hands‑on role with 70–75% time on the floor supporting a primarily Spanish‑speaking workforce. Drives performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale (SQDCM). Direct Reports Production Supervisors Team Leaders Hourly Employees Responsibilities Production Operations Execute daily, weekly, monthly production plans aligned with labor, materials, and capacity Oversee IQF, frozen bowl, sauce chip, and packaging operations (SUP, VFFS) Optimize throughput, staffing, changeovers, and material flow Adjust staffing and balance lines in real time Drive schedule attainment and implement recovery plans Track output vs. finished goods demand Ensure Pre‑Op and Downtime reports with RCA and corrective actions Food Safety & Compliance Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, HACCP, GMPs, and allergen controls Maintain cold chain and execution of CCPs and preventive controls Support audit readiness (SQF, FSSC 22000) Partner with QA on non‑conformances and product issues Leadership & Workforce Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, team leads, and hourly staff Manage staffing, scheduling, and attendance Partner with HR on hiring, performance, and employee relations Build cross‑training and promote safety and accountability culture Equipment & Process Partner with Maintenance to ensure uptime and reliability Support PMs, sanitation, and SOP adherence Participate in trials, validations, and capital projects Performance & Continuous Improvement Monitor KPIs (OEE, yield, scrap, safety, OTIF) Lead RCA and corrective actions Drive Lean initiatives including 5S and continuous improvement Cross‑Functional Partner with Supply Chain, QA, Engineering, Sales, and Finance Support audits, customer interactions, and product launches Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience accepted Experience 5+ years leadership in food manufacturing Experience in RTE, frozen, or IQF environments Experience with high‑speed packaging (SUP, VFFS, flow pack) Multi‑shift operations experience Skills Strong knowledge of FSMA, HACCP, GMPs, and food safety audits Data‑driven with strong KPI management skills Lean/5S experience ERP/MRP and Microsoft Office proficiency Strong leadership and communication skills Spanish bilingual preferred #J-18808-Ljbffr