Production Manager Food Safety SQF Leadership

Overview

A growing food manufacturing operation within a temperature-controlled production environment is seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead day-to-day production activities, supervise production teams, and stabilize manufacturing operations during a period of growth and operational realignment.

This role is ideal for a hands-on leader with strong food manufacturing experience who can bring structure, accountability, and consistency to production while working closely with Quality, Warehouse, and Maintenance teams. The Production Manager will play a key role in aligning production output with demand, improving efficiency, and developing supervisors.

• Production Planning & Execution:
  Plan, schedule, and oversee daily and weekly production activities based on demand forecasts and inventory levels
• Production Planning & Execution:
  Ensure production targets are met while maintaining quality, safety, and efficiency standards
• Production Planning & Execution:
  Monitor production flow to prevent overproduction, bottlenecks, or downtime
• Team Leadership & Supervision:
  Directly manage Production Supervisors and production staff across shifts
• Team Leadership & Supervision:
  Establish clear expectations, standard work practices, and accountability
• Team Leadership & Supervision:
  Coach and develop supervisors to ensure consistent leadership and execution
• Process & Operational Improvement:
  Enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) and production workflows
• Process & Operational Improvement:
  Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements
• Process & Operational Improvement:
  Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve production issues
• Cross-Functional Coordination:
  Partner closely with Quality Assurance to ensure compliance with food safety and regulatory standards
• Cross-Functional Coordination:
  Coordinate with Warehouse and Logistics to align production with storage capacity and distribution needs
• Cross-Functional Coordination:
  Work with Maintenance to minimize downtime and support preventive maintenance efforts
• Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities:
  Actively support and maintain compliance within an SQF-certified food manufacturing environment, working closely with Quality and Operations teams.
• Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities:
  Participate directly in SQF audit preparation, execution, and follow-up, including documentation review, corrective actions, and production-floor readiness.
• Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities:
  Ensure production teams consistently follow SQF, GMP, HACCP, sanitation, allergen control, and food safety procedures.
• Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities:
  Partner with Quality to identify gaps, implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), and reinforce food safety culture across shifts.
• Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities:
  Train, coach, and hold production supervisors and operators accountable for food safety and SQF-related practices.
• Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities:
  Serve as a key operational contact during internal and external audits, supporting auditors with real-time production insights and documentation as needed.
• Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities:
  Ensure compliance with food safety standards, GMPs, and workplace safety regulations
• Food Safety & SQF Responsibilities:
  Promote a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement
• Reporting & Communication:
  Track and report key production metrics including output, labor efficiency, downtime, and waste
• Reporting & Communication:
  Communicate production status, challenges, and improvement opportunities to leadership

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing, with at least 2 years in a production management role
• Proven experience managing production supervisors and hourly teams
• Strong understanding of food safety, quality standards, and manufacturing best practices
• Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Strong organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to balance hands-on involvement with managerial oversight

• Experience in frozen, refrigerated, or high-volume food production environments
• Familiarity with production planning, inventory coordination, and demand alignment
• Proven experience working in an SQF-certified food manufacturing facility.
• Demonstrated hands-on involvement in SQF audits, including preparation, corrective actions, and ongoing compliance from a production leadership perspective.
• Strong working knowledge of SQF Code, HACCP principles, GMPs, sanitation programs, and allergen controls.
• Ability to translate food safety and SQF requirements into practical, executable production-floor processes.
• Experience partnering closely with Quality teams while maintaining ownership of production performance.
• SQF Practitioner certification or prior designation as a site SQF lead (preferred but not required).
• Experience in frozen or cold-chain food manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting operational growth or process…