Production Manager

Location: Lakeland, FL

Shift: 1st Shift 8:00am – 5:00pm

Employment Type: Full-Time

Growing commercial bakery manufacturer in Lakeland, Fl is seeking an experienced and results-oriented Production Manager - 1st Shift 8:00am – 5:00pm to lead daily bakery manufacturing operations at our Lakeland facility. This position is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and timely production of high-quality baked products, for food service, retail and private label customers while maintaining compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and has a proven ability to lead teams, improve productivity, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and achieve operational goals.

• Lead all 1st Shift 8:00am – 5:00pm bakery production operations to achieve safety, quality, service, and productivity objectives.
• Ensure daily production schedules are executed efficiently, and customer requirements are met.
• Monitor production output and make real-time operational decisions to maximize performance.
• Collaborate with planning, maintenance, warehouse, and quality teams to ensure uninterrupted production flow.

• Direct, coach, and develop production supervisors, team leads, and hourly associates.
• Establish clear performance expectations and accountability throughout the organization.
• Support employee development, succession planning, and training initiatives.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, engagement, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, SQF, OSHA, and all company food safety requirements.
• Maintain high quality standards throughout all production processes.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to investigate and resolve product quality concerns.
• Participate in internal and external audits as required.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, labor efficiency, yield improvement, and waste reduction.
• Monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) including:
• Productivity
• Yield performance
• Downtime
• OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
• Waste and rework
• Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to improve operational performance.

• Manage staffing levels and labor utilization to meet operational requirements.
• Control overtime and labor costs while maintaining production goals.
• Support budget management initiatives and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Promote efficient use of raw materials and production resources.

• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all safety policies and procedures.
• Conduct routine safety observations and corrective action follow-up.
• Investigate incidents and implement preventative measures to reduce risk.

• Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management, Food Science, Engineering, Business Management, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience will be considered.

• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience in manufacturing operations.
• Minimum 3 years managing supervisors and production teams.
• Food manufacturing experience required.
• Bakery manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working in a high-volume, fast-paced production environment.

• Strong understanding of bakery production processes and food manufacturing operations.
• Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, SQF, and OSHA standards.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in ERP and production reporting systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly in a dynamic environment.

• Safety Incident Rate
• OEE Performance
• Product Quality Metrics
• Yield Improvement
• Employee Retention & Engagement
• Food Safety Compliance
• Customer Service Performance

• Ability to work within a manufacturing and bakery production environment.
• Frequent walking, standing, climbing stairs, and interaction with production equipment.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• Exposure to varying temperatures and production-related noise levels.