Senior Production Manager

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with a fast-growing, nationally distributed food manufacturer with a broad portfolio of refrigerated and ready-to-eat products. The business is known for quality, innovation, and a strong customer-first mindset across multiple channels. As the organization continues to modernize and scale, this newly prioritized leadership role is being added to strengthen day-to-day execution, elevate performance, and build deeper leadership capability on the floor.

This Senior Production Manager position is based at a high-volume, highly visible manufacturing operation. You’ll be stepping into an environment where pace is real, standards are high, and leadership wants structure—someone who can develop teams, tighten processes, and improve results through disciplined execution.

You’ll thrive here if you’re a hands‑on builder who enjoys leading from the floor, coaching supervisors, and making improvements that stick.

What You’ll Do

• Lead daily production execution across teams/shifts to consistently hit safety, quality, and service expectations.
• Develop, coach, and hold leaders accountable—building strong routines, clarity, and ownership on the floor.
• Identify performance gaps and drive improvements in efficiency, waste reduction, and uptime through practical process changes.
• Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain to resolve issues quickly and prevent repeat problems.
• Support labor planning, resource allocation, and cost control to improve operational outcomes.
• Strengthen training and capability across teams by addressing skill gaps and reinforcing standard work.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts tied to safety, automation, and operational performance.
• Support strategic initiatives, including new products, process changes, and broader growth-related projects.

Who You Are

You’re calm under pressure and clear in your expectations. You know how to run production in a regulated environment without turning leadership into bureaucracy. People trust you because you’re consistent, fair, and focused on solutions. You use data, but you also know when to get on the floor and see the problem yourself. You like building teams, tightening execution, and raising the bar—without losing people along the way.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of production leadership in food manufacturing; experience in regulated environments strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of food safety and manufacturing compliance expectations (GMPs, SOPs, HACCP, OSHA).
• Proven ability to lead and develop multi‑shift teams through clear routines and accountability.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

Why This Role Matters

This role has direct impact on safety, quality, output, and team culture—core drivers of customer satisfaction and business growth. You’ll partner closely with senior operations leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders, helping shape both daily performance and the long‑term capability of the operation. Joining now means stepping into a moment where the organization is investing in leadership depth and operational consistency.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Operations leadership (site level)
• Leads: Production Supervisors and hourly teams
• Interfaces frequently with: Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and HR

The Environment

This is a high‑energy, team‑driven production environment with high standards and a clear focus on execution. Leaders are expected to be visible, engaged, and hands‑on—building trust on the floor while driving measurable performance improvements.

Benefits & Rewards

• Competitive compensation aligned with experience and performance
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Paid time off and holidaysAdditional benefit options (life, disability, supplemental)
• Ongoing investment in training and career growth