Production Manager

ABOUT GUMMI WORLD

Gummi World is a fast-growing nutraceutical manufacturer in Chandler, Arizona, specializing in high-quality custom gummy formulations for leading brands globally. We operate a 24-hour FDA-regulated, cGMP and HACCP-compliant facility with approximately 70–100 employees — and we are growing. The Production Manager is a cornerstone of that growth: the person responsible for turning raw materials into finished product safely, on time, and to the highest quality standard every single day.

JOB SUMMARY

The Production Manager is responsible for the full scope of daily manufacturing operations at Gummi World, overseeing 50+ production employees across cooking, production line, packaging, and warehouse functions on multiple shifts. This individual is the senior operations leader on the floor — accountable for safety, quality, output, GMP compliance, and team performance every shift, every day. The Production Manager leads through Lead supervisors and associates, but is never too far removed from the floor to see what is actually happening. This role demands a rare combination of technical manufacturing knowledge, composed leadership under pressure, and the ability to develop people while delivering results simultaneously. The Production Manager is the bridge between the General Manager's strategic direction and the production floor's daily execution — and is expected to close that gap without compromise.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

FLOOR LEADERSHIP & DAILY OPERATIONS

• Own daily production operations across all shifts: cooking, production line, demolding, packaging, and materials staging — from line start-up to shut-down.
• Conduct daily floor walks across all three shifts to observe operations, verify GMP and safety compliance, coach team members in real time, and identify issues before they become production stoppages or quality events.
• Lead daily pre-shift meetings, shift handoff reviews, and production planning huddles; ensure every shift starts with clear priorities, staffing awareness, and open issue communication.
• Drive production to hit daily and weekly output targets without sacrificing quality, safety, or compliance — and be the first to know and act when targets are at risk.
• Make fast, confident, data-informed decisions when production is disrupted — equipment failure, quality hold, personnel shortage, formulation deviation — and communicate those decisions clearly up and down the organization.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for production issues on all shifts; model calm, solutions-oriented leadership in high-pressure situations.

TEAM LEADERSHIP, DEVELOPMENT & ACCOUNTABILITY

• Directly lead and develop a team of 50+ production employees across multiple shifts, including Cooking Leads, Production Leads, Packaging Leads, and Line Associates.
• Set clear performance expectations for every Lead and Associate; conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and real-time coaching conversations — not annual check-ins only.
• Hold team members accountable to GMP standards, safety requirements, production targets, and professional conduct — respectfully, consistently, and without favoritism or avoidance.
• Identify high-potential performers and actively develop them for Lead and Supervisor-level advancement; build the bench that supports Gummi World's growth.
• Manage performance issues directly and professionally: document observations, issue corrective action where warranted, partner with HR, and follow through — every time.
• Drive bilingual team communication (English and Spanish) across all production functions; ensure safety briefings, SOPs, coaching conversations, and production instructions are clearly understood by all team members.
• Manage shift staffing levels, overtime allocation, and cross-training coverage to maintain production continuity and control labor costs.

QUALITY, GMP & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

• Champion a zero-defect, zero-shortcut quality culture on the production floor — lead by personal example every shift, without exception.
• Ensure all production activities are executed strictly per Master Batch Records (MBRs), SOPs, and Gummi World cGMP procedures; intervene on any deviation immediately.
• Own in-process quality performance: batch record accuracy, in-process check completion rates, defect and rework rates, and GMP audit scores across all production areas.
• Partner with the Quality team on CAPA investigations, deviation root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation — provide production context and enforce follow-through on the floor.
• Prepare the production floor for FDA inspections, third-party audits, and customer facility visits; ensure documentation is complete, the floor is compliant, and the team is audit-ready at all times.
• Ensure accurate, complete, and real-time data entry into NetSuite for all production batches, yield reporting, and material consumption.

SAFETY LEADERSHIP

• Make safety the non-negotiable foundation of production operations — before output, before efficiency, before anything else.
• Enforce 100% LOTO compliance and PPE adherence across all production areas and all shifts; conduct regular safety audits and hold immediate accountable follow-through on findings.
• Lead incident investigation and root cause analysis for any safety event or near-miss; implement corrective actions and verify effectiveness.
• Build a safety culture where team members are empowered to stop unsafe work, report near-misses without fear, and hold each other accountable.
• Ensure all new production employees and leads complete required safety training and certifications before working independently on the floor.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

• Analyze daily production data — output rates, downtime, defect rates, yield, GMP scores — and use it to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead or co-lead continuous improvement initiatives: waste reduction, yield improvement, downtime reduction, changeover time reduction, and process standardization.
• Partner with Maintenance on equipment reliability, PM compliance, and capital project prioritization; advocate for the production floor's equipment and infrastructure needs.
• Partner with Warehouse and Procurement to ensure materials and components are staged accurately and on time for every production run.
• Build and maintain SOPs and work instructions that reflect actual best practices on the floor — not outdated procedures.

REPORTING & COMMUNICATION

• Report daily production performance — output, quality, safety, GMP, staffing — to the Director of Operations / General Manager in a clear, factual, and timely manner.
• Escalate critical issues (safety incidents, major quality holds, significant downtime, regulatory risk) to senior leadership immediately — no filtering, no delay.
• Participate in weekly operations meetings, budget reviews, and strategic planning discussions as a production floor subject matter expert.
• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships with Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, and HR to ensure smooth, collaborative daily operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Food Science, Business, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and hands-on manufacturing leadership experience considered. A degree alone without direct floor leadership experience will not qualify.

EXPERIENCE — NON-NEGOTIABLE

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive manufacturing operations experience, with at least 3 years in a management or senior supervisory role with direct accountability for a team of 50+ employees across multiple shifts.
• Proven track record of managing multi-shift manufacturing operations: scheduling, output performance, GMP compliance, quality, and safety simultaneously.
• Experience in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, confectionery, or other FDA-regulated, cGMP-compliant manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and holding accountable a large, diverse manufacturing workforce — including bilingual (English/Spanish) team dynamics.
• Experience with NetSuite ERP or similar manufacturing ERP system for production data entry, batch documentation, and yield reporting.
• Track record of driving measurable improvements in output, quality, safety, or efficiency through structured operations management practices.

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

• Deep understanding of GMP, cGMP, HACCP, and FDA regulatory requirements in a manufacturing context — specifically as they apply to day-to-day production operations.
• Familiarity with Master Batch Records, SOP management, batch disposition, in-process quality checks, and change control processes.
• Working knowledge of production equipment across cooking, depositing, demolding, packaging, and warehouse operations — enough to lead troubleshooting conversations with Maintenance and make informed downtime decisions.
• Strong data literacy: able to read, interpret, and act on production data including output rates, yield, defect rates, downtime metrics, and GMP audit findings.
• Familiarity with 5S, lean manufacturing, continuous improvement tools (root cause analysis, PDCA, A3 or similar) strongly preferred.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Bilingual English/Spanish — required. Must be fluent in both languages for all aspects of the role: safety briefings, coaching, performance conversations, shift handoffs, and cross-functional communication.
• Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills — able to communicate clearly, directly, and professionally with line associates, Leads, QA, Maintenance, HR, and senior leadership.
• Proven ability to perform under sustained pressure without sacrificing quality, safety, or professional conduct.
• Highly organized: able to manage competing priorities, multiple shifts, and real-time production disruptions simultaneously without losing track of the bigger picture.
• Comfortable making fast decisions with incomplete information when the situation requires it — and knowing when to escalate vs. decide independently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office / Google Workspace for reporting, scheduling, and documentation.

CERTIFICATIONS (REQUIRED OR WITHIN 90 DAYS OF HIRE)

• GMP and food safety certification — required; provided upon hire if not current.
• HACCP awareness training — required; provided upon hire.
• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) — required; training provided if not already certified.
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry — strongly preferred; must be completed within 90 days of hire.
• NetSuite ERP training — provided upon hire.
• Forklift / pallet jack certification — preferred; training available.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This role requires sustained floor presence in an active manufacturing environment across a full workday. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the ADA.

• Walk and stand on hard production floor for extended periods throughout the shift.
• Climb stairs, ladders, and mezzanine platforms to access all production areas.
• Occasional lifting up to 40 lbs. when assisting on the floor or demonstrating tasks.
• Work near operating heavy machinery, conveyors, high-speed production lines, and pressurized systems.
• Wear full PPE when on the production floor: hairnet, safety glasses, lab coat or smock, gloves, and slip-resistant footwear.
• Work extended hours including early mornings, evenings, and weekends during peak production, audits, or staffing emergencies.