Foreground is partnering with a market-leading frozen food manufacturer to appoint a results-oriented Production Manager to lead day-to-day manufacturing operations and ensure plant performance meets both commercial and regulatory expectations.
This is a critical leadership role within a high-throughput facility, requiring deep functional knowledge, team leadership capability, and operational foresight. The successful candidate will oversee production execution, performance governance, and quality adherence across multiple lines, while serving as a key enabler of operational stability and growth.
Key Objectives
- Own full accountability for manufacturing performance, leading a structured production organization across shifts and lines.
- Ensure uninterrupted output in alignment with demand plans, quality standards, and safety protocols.
- Build a robust performance culture across teams, driving frontline ownership and leadership depth.
- Champion process optimization through waste reduction, automation, and manufacturing excellence tools.
Core Responsibilities
Production Oversight
- Translate demand and production plans into optimized daily and weekly schedules with full utilization of manpower, equipment, and materials.
- Submit daily production performance reports with insights and corrective actions directly to executive leadership.
- Lead incident management, root cause analysis, and escalation routines for downtime, deviations, or critical risks.
Leadership & Culture
- Manage a multi-level production organization including supervisors, team leaders, and operators.
- Conduct regular coaching, performance appraisals, and structured learning interventions.
- Foster a strong safety, hygiene, and GMP culture with zero tolerance for non-compliance.
Quality & Compliance
- Guarantee strict compliance with HACCP, ISO 22000, and internal food safety systems.
- Partner with QA and QC teams to close gaps, implement preventive controls, and uphold product integrity across all lines.
- Oversee sanitation, allergen management, and production readiness audits.
Optimization & Innovation
- Identify process inefficiencies and lead initiatives to improve yield, reduce scrap, and enhance line balance.
- Support automation projects, layout reengineering, and equipment upgrades in coordination with engineering and maintenance functions.
- Lead production readiness for new product launches and commercialization trials.
Cross-Functional Alignment
- Interface with planning, supply chain, maintenance, quality, and commercial functions to ensure seamless flow across operations.
- Participate in S&OP meetings, providing data-driven input on capacity, constraints, and readiness.
Candidate Profile
- Bachelors degree in Food Technology, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
- 7+ years of progressive manufacturing experience in food or FMCG, with at least 3 years in a plant leadership role.
- Strong understanding of cold chain, frozen food, or meat/poultry manufacturing environments.
- Certified in or deeply familiar with HACCP, ISO 22000, GMP, and regulatory inspection standards.
- Operational command of ERP and real-time production systems.
- Proven ability to lead teams in complex, fast-paced production environments.