Manager, Production

vandrunenfarms; Momence (IL); On-site; USD 106,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Van Drunen Farms in Illinois is seeking a Production Manager to lead day-to-day operations, drive safety and quality, and engage a plant-wide team.

You will partner with Maintenance, Safety, Quality, Accounting, Engineering, Scheduling and Product Lines to optimize throughput, apply Lean methods, and ensure HACCP/GMP/BRC compliance.

This exempt, full-time role offers a competitive pay range and bonus opportunities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; technical degree preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical field preferred.
• 10+ years in production/manufacturing/operations roles or equivalent.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead production operations across the facility, serving as main point of contact for supervisors and leads.
• Develop a high-performing production leadership team across all shifts.
• Coordinate with Scheduling, Purchasing, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, and Engineering to optimize schedules, resources, equipment, and workflow.
• Champion Lean, problem-solving, and continuous improvement to improve safety, quality, efficiency and plant performance.
• Review production reports, resolve issues, support new products/equipment, ensure HACCP, GMP, BRC and environmental requirements.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Operations management

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in a technical field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Email

Job description

The Van Drunen Family of Companies is growing!

Expected Pay Range: $106K-$120K, exempt

Bonus: This role may further qualify for supplemental compensation in the form of bonus and incentive programs, contingent upon achieving pre-established individual and company performance metrics.

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Benefits Available : 2026-benefits-summary.pdf

Who We Are

At Van Drunen Farms, we're not just providing ingredients; we're providing people with purpose and possibility. As a trusted partner in delivering fruit, vegetable, herb, and grain-based ingredient solutions to companies around the globe, we're striving to build a values-aligned workforce that embodies humility, integrity, passion, and excellence.

Role Summary

The Production Manager leads day-to-day production operations and helps drive safety, quality, efficiency, and team engagement across the plant. Reporting to the Site Director and serving as a key member of the Plant Leadership Team, this role partners closely with Maintenance, Safety, Quality, Accounting, Engineering, Scheduling, and Product Line teams to keep production running effectively while building a strong, accountable, and continuous improvement-focused team.

What You'll Do

• Lead production operations across the facility, serving as the main point of contact for production supervisors and leads.
• Build and develop a high-performing production leadership team that actively engages employees across all shifts.
• Coordinate with Scheduling, Purchasing, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, and Engineering to optimize production schedules, resources, equipment, and workflow.
• Champion Lean principles, problem-solving, and continuous improvement efforts to improve safety, quality, efficiency, and overall plant performance.
• Review production reports, resolve operational issues, support new products and equipment, and ensure HACCP, GMP, BRC, safety, and environmental requirements are met.

What You'll Bring

• High school diploma or GED required, with a bachelor's degree in a technical field preferred.
• Ten or more years of related production, manufacturing, or operations experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop, engage, and inspire teams.
• Solid problem-solving, communication, organization, and decision-making skills.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles and Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email.

What You Can Look Forward To

• A key leadership role with direct impact on production performance, team engagement, and plant success.
• The opportunity to drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Cross-functional partnership with plant leadership, operations, quality, safety, maintenance, and engineering teams.
• Hands-on involvement in process improvement, new products, equipment changes, and operator development.
• A values-driven culture focused on safety, accountability, teamwork, and excellence.

In the Van Drunen Family of Companies, commitment to excellence is in everything we do! As a global ingredient and nutritional supplement supplier to the world's best companies, we thrive on nourishing others with our products and our care for people. If you are looking to make an impact and grow with a family-friendly, values-driven company, you'll fit right in with the Van Drunen Family of Companies!

Our employees are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creativity, innovation, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our Company's achievement as well.

The Van Drunen Family of Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at [e-mail] .

Van Drunen Family of Companies may use artificial intelligence ("AI") in its recruitment and hiring process. To the extent AI is used, Van Drunen Family of Companies ensures that its use does not result in discrimination against applicants on the basis of any protected class.

Van Drunen Family of Companies does not accept unsolicited resumes. Any resumes, CV's, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a submitted request and written search agreement for a position-