Production Manager, Pellet Mill

Production Manager, Pellet Mill

The Production Manager provides strategic and day-to-day leadership of all production operations at the Outdoor Brands BBQ pellet facility in Hope, AR. This role is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and consistent manufacture of high-quality BBQ wood pellets that meet brand and customer specifications. The Production Manager leads production planning, labor management, throughput performance, and adherence to process standards across all production lines.

The ideal candidate is a strong people leader who thrives in a fast-paced, continuous manufacturing environment. This individual balances daily operational performance with long-term improvements that enhance productivity, reduce waste, and strengthen team capability.

Leadership & Organizational Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a results-driven production team across multiple shifts, including Supervisors, Leads, and hourly operators.
• Build a culture of safety, accountability, and teamwork aligned with Outdoor Brands values.
• Partner closely with Maintenance, Engineering, EH&S, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure smooth and reliable plant operations.
• Manage staffing levels, training programs, schedule planning, and performance reviews to ensure operational readiness.
• Establish and track department KPIs related to throughput, yield, scrap, and labor efficiency.

Production Planning & Execution

• Oversee day-to-day production operations across pelletizing, grinding, drying, conveying, and packaging processes.
• Ensure production meets daily, weekly, and monthly volume targets while maintaining quality and safety standards.
• Monitor process parameters and operator performance to maintain stable, repeatable production conditions.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain to align production schedules with inventory and customer demand requirements.
• Optimize shift structures, machine utilization, and process flow to minimize downtime and bottlenecks.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Champion a "Safety First" mindset and enforce compliance with OSHA, NFPA, combustible dust handling standards, and site EH&SS policies.
• Ensure adherence to quality specifications for moisture content, pellet density, sizing, and packaging integrity.
• Investigate operational incidents, quality issues, or non-conformances and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain operational documentation, standard work procedures, and training records.

Continuous Improvement & Performance Optimization

• Identify and lead improvements that reduce waste, increase throughput, and stabilize production variability.
• Collaborate with engineering and maintenance to prioritize reliability issues impacting production performance.
• Support capital projects including new equipment upgrades, process changes, and automation improvements.
• Promote disciplined use of lean tools such as 5S, root cause analysis, visual management, and standard work.
• Drive performance metrics including:
  Throughput per hour First-pass yield / scrap rate Labor utilization Cost per ton produced

Qualification Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• 5+ years of production leadership experience in manufacturing, ideally continuous processing or bulk material operations.
• Experience working with pelletizing, feed, wood processing, or similar process industries strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success driving operational performance, workforce engagement, and cross-functional alignment.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Strong communication, organization, and team-building skills.

Knowledge,

Skills and Abilities

• Working knowledge of mechanical and process equipment common to pellet manufacturing, including pellet mills, dryers, hammer mills, and bagging systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead crews across multiple shifts in a twenty-four-hour production environment.
• Strong communication, leadership, conflict resolution, and team development skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure and make sound decisions.
• Proficiency with production reporting tools, daily KPI tracking, and data analysis; familiarity with computerized maintenance management systems preferred.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments and occasionally in temperatures above 100°F and below 32°F.
• Ability to maintain regular attendance and work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, or holidays when needed.
• Ability to work in a constant state of alertness and perform physically demanding tasks when required.

Physical Requirements

• Predominantly manufacturing floor environment with exposure to wood dust, high noise, moving equipment, and variable temperatures.
• Requires frequent walking, standing, climbing stairs/ladders, and occasional lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to support a 24/5 or 24/7 production schedule and respond to off-hours operational needs.