Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Food Production Manager

🎯 Role Definition

As our Food Production Manager, you will be the driving force behind our entire production process, from raw materials to finished goods. This is a pivotal leadership role where you'll be responsible for the strategic oversight and day-to-day execution of all manufacturing activities. This role requires a hands-on leader who can champion a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement. You will orchestrate the complexities of production scheduling, resource allocation, and team management to ensure our products are made efficiently, on-time, and to the highest standards of excellence. Your expertise will directly impact our operational success and ability to scale.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Production Supervisor
Assistant Production Manager
Quality Assurance Supervisor
Senior Food Technologist with production line experience

Advancement To:

Plant Manager
Director of Operations
ll- Regional Production Manager

Lateral Moves:

Quality Assurance Manager
Continuous Improvement Manager
Supply Chain Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Direct and coordinate the daily activities of the food production staff, including scheduling, training, and performance management, to ensure production goals are met in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Develop and execute master production schedules and finite run plans, balancing inventory levels with demand forecasts while maximizing production line uptime and efficiency.
Champion and enforce a rigorous food safety and quality culture, ensuring strict compliance with all HACCP, GMP, SQF, and BRC standards and regulatory requirements (FDA, USDA).
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing production team, including supervisors and hourly associates, fostering an environment of accountability, collaboration, and employee engagement.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies to optimize processes, reduce waste, improve product yield, and enhance overall operational efficiency (OEE).
Manage the departmental budget, including labor, materials, and overhead costs, through careful planning, monitoring of expenditures, and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional departments, including Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and R&D, to ensure seamless operations and effective problem-solving.
Monitor, analyze, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), such as production volume, on-time delivery, cost per unit, and labor variance, to senior management.
Lead root cause analysis investigations for all production non-conformances, safety incidents, or quality deviations, implementing robust corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
Ensure all production equipment is properly maintained and operated, partnering with the maintenance team to develop and implement effective preventative maintenance schedules.
Oversee the entire employee lifecycle for the production department, from hiring and onboarding to ongoing training, development, and performance reviews.
Guarantee the production facility is maintained in a clean, organized, and audit-ready state at all times, leading sanitation efforts and verification activities.
Manage raw material and packaging inventory levels to prevent shortages or excesses, working in conjunction with the procurement and planning teams.
Act as the primary point of contact for the production floor, demonstrating a strong presence and providing clear direction and support to resolve issues as they arise.
Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all production tasks to ensure consistency, safety, and quality across all shifts.
Facilitate the scale-up and commercialization of new products by working with R&D to successfully transition them from pilot phase to full-scale production.
Prepare and present regular reports on production metrics, project status, and team performance to the plant leadership team.
Drive a "zero-incident" safety culture by promoting behavioral-based safety programs, conducting regular safety training, and ensuring adherence to all OSHA and company safety protocols.
Evaluate and recommend capital expenditure projects for new equipment, technology, or facility upgrades to improve capacity, efficiency, or safety.
Cultivate a positive and respectful work environment, addressing employee concerns and resolving conflicts in a professional and timely manner.

Secondary Functions

Collaborate with the Research & Development team to schedule and execute production trials for new products and processes.
Represent the production department in cross-functional strategic planning and capital project meetings.
Assist in the development of the annual plant-wide operating budget and long-term capacity planning.
Participate in customer and third-party audits, serving as a subject matter expert for all production-related processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Food Safety & Quality Systems: Expert-level knowledge of HACCP, GMPs, and GFSI schemes (SQF, BRC). Certifications are highly desirable.
Lean Manufacturing / Continuous Improvement: Proven experience implementing methodologies like Six Sigma, 5S, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping to drive efficiency.
ERP/MRP Systems: Proficiency with enterprise resource planning software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) for production planning, inventory, and reporting.
Regulatory Compliance: Deep understanding of FDA, USDA, and OSHA regulations governing food manufacturing environments.
Production & Capacity Planning: Ability to develop, manage, and adjust complex production schedules to meet dynamic business needs.
Financial Acumen: Experience with budgeting, cost analysis, and managing a P&L for a production department.
Root Cause Analysis: Skill in utilizing problem-solving tools (e.g., Fishbone, 5 Whys) to investigate and resolve complex operational issues.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Team Building: A natural ability to inspire, motivate, and develop a large and diverse team, leading by example with a strong floor presence.
Analytical Problem-Solving: Capable of interpreting production data and KPIs to make data-driven decisions and implement effective solutions.
Communication: Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey information to everyone from front-line employees to senior executives.
Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and can effectively manage competing priorities and unexpected challenges.
Decision-Making: Confident and decisive, able to make sound judgments quickly to keep production moving and ensure safety and quality.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and extensive relevant experience.

Preferred Education:

Master’s Degree (e.g., MBA, M.S. in Food Science or Operations Management).
Lean or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Food Science
Operations Management
Business Administration
Industrial or Mechanical Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5-8 years of progressive experience in a food manufacturing environment, with at least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity (e.g., Production Supervisor, Production Manager).

Preferred:

Experience in a specific food category relevant to the company (e.g., bakery, beverage, ready-to-eat, frozen foods).
Proven track record of leading significant process improvement projects with quantifiable results.
Experience managing in a 24/7 or multi-shift operation.