Processing Manager

Processing Manager

The Processing Manager oversees all processing operations in a 24/7 manufacturing environment, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant production of high-quality dairy products. This role provides leadership to processing supervisors and operators, drives continuous improvement, and ensures adherence to food safety, regulatory, and quality standards.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Lead daily processing operations including pasteurization, standardization, batching, separation, and CIP/SIP processes.
• Manage and support a team of processing supervisors and operators across all shifts in a 24/7 environment.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistent, efficient, and safe production.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements including FDA, USDA, PMO, HACCP, SQF, and GMPs.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to monitor product specifications, conduct root-cause investigations, and implement corrective actions.
• Champion a culture of quality and sanitation throughout processing operations.
• Analyze processing KPIs—yield, throughput, downtime, labor efficiency—and develop action plans for improvement.
• Lead process optimization initiatives, including waste reduction, automation improvements, and capacity expansion.
• Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering to ensure equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and prompt resolution of equipment issues.
• Recruit, train, coach, and evaluate processing personnel; support employee growth and cross-training.
• Ensure proper staffing levels across all shifts; manage scheduling in a 24/7 environment.
• Foster a positive, safety-focused, quality driven work culture with strong communication and accountability.
• Maintain accurate production, sanitation, and traceability records.
• Ensure adherence to safety, environmental, and regulatory policies.
• Support audits (internal, regulatory, and third-party) and implement audit recommendations.

Qualifications

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Dairy Science, Engineering, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in dairy or food manufacturing, including supervisory or management responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of dairy processing systems (pasteurization, homogenizers, batching systems).
• Experience working in a 24/7 production environment.
• Proven leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

Work Environment

• 24/7 production facility requiring occasional off-shift or weekend support.
• Exposure to cold, hot, and humid environments.
• Routine interaction with processing equipment, chemicals, and sanitation activities

Travel Requirements:

• Must be able to travel to additional company sites as needed for meetings and business needs.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.

Physical Requirements:

• Standing
• Walking
• Sitting
• Use of hands, fingers
• Reaching with hands and arms
• Climb and balance
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Talk and hear
• Distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more)
• Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)
• Peripheral vision (ability to observe an area up, down, left, and right while eyes remain fixed on a point)
• Depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)

Equal Employment Opportunity Alamance Foods Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons because of age, race, color, creed, religion, disability, gender, ethnic or national origin, or veteran status. Alamance Foods Inc. prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability.

Employment Eligibility: Alamance Foods Inc. participates in the federal E-Verify program. All employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a Form I-9 and verification of authorization to work in the United States.