Production Manager

This role provides overall leadership and operational direction for cheese production and associated processing areas, including intake, concentration, and downstream operations. The position is accountable for delivering safe, high-quality dairy products while optimizing yield, efficiency, cost, and workforce performance. The manager builds a disciplined manufacturing environment capable of meeting current production demands and supporting future improvements through process optimization, people development, and cross-functional collaboration.

The role emphasizes technical ownership of cheese making processes, operational execution, and continuous improvement while maintaining strong alignment with safety, quality, and customer requirements.

Direct day-to-day production activities across cheese and related processing areas, ensuring performance targets for safety, quality, cost, delivery, and employee engagement are achieved. Oversee production planning and execution, including daily and weekly scheduling to meet customer and business requirements. Ensure manufacturing operations are executed efficiently while maintaining compliance with food safety, quality, and sanitation standards. Analyze operational metrics and trends to identify risks, opportunities, and improvement priorities.

Provide technical oversight of cheese making processes, formulations, and processing parameters to ensure consistent product performance and yield optimization. Lead troubleshooting efforts for process deviations, equipment challenges, and quality issues, utilizing structured problem-solving methodologies. Partner with quality leadership to determine appropriate disposition of product based on specifications and customer requirements. Ensure equipment, utilities, and facilities are maintained in sanitary and production-ready condition.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, waste reduction, labor efficiency, and process reliability. Apply lean manufacturing principles and structured improvement tools to enhance operational performance. Ensure standard operating procedures are developed, documented, maintained, and effectively deployed across manufacturing activities. Lead change management efforts related to new processes, trials, recipes, and operational updates.

Work closely with maintenance and engineering teams to plan and execute capital projects, equipment upgrades, and preventative maintenance activities. Coordinate with supply chain, purchasing, and logistics partners to ensure material availability and timely order fulfillment. Act as a collaborative partner across departments to align operational priorities and support enterprise initiatives.

Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to supervisors, team leads, and operators. Develop leadership capability within the supervisory team to strengthen execution and accountability. Support effective staffing, training, performance management, and succession planning. Ensure consistent application of company policies, including corrective action processes, in partnership with human resources.

Promote and enforce safety programs and safe work practices to reduce incidents and improve overall workplace safety. Ensure compliance with GMPs, HACCP, sanitation, and regulatory requirements. Maintain accurate production, quality, safety, and sanitation records. Develop and manage departmental budgets, monitoring labor, materials, overhead, and shrink to meet financial objectives.