Production Manager

Mowi USA; Arlington (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The Production Manager at Mowi Arlington oversees operations on the production floor of a refrigerated seafood plant, reporting to the Director of Factory Operations. This hands-on role requires strong leadership and data-driven decision making.

With 80% floor time and 20% office time, you’ll guide safety, quality, OTIF and yield targets, manage a large team, and drive continuous improvement through scheduling, training, and performance reporting.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive production management experience in the food or perishables industry.
• Ability to work on feet in a cold, wet environment for 8+ hours per day; 2nd shift weekly, Saturdays and holidays as needed.
• Demonstrates strong ethics, transparency, and the company’s code of conduct.
• Works with data to identify issues and drive yield/improvements; proficient math skills.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills, bilingual English/Spanish desired.

Responsibilities

• Actively supports safety programs and training; evaluates risks and coaches safe behaviors.
• Ensures GMPs, traceability, labeling, and audit readiness; collaborates with Quality Manager.
• Maintains audit-ready production areas and conducts tours for visitors and auditors.
• Oversees inventory rotation and minimizes losses due to mis-rotation.
• Drives yield improvements and manages OTIF performance; communicates delays proactively.
• Manages hour-by-hour production schedules and supports cost control.
• Leads labor productivity improvements through scheduling, cross-training, and automation.
• Supports OEEs, ERP and other IT systems; prepares monthly performance reports.
• Supports sustainability objectives by reducing water and energy use.

Skills

Production management

Food safety

Bilingual English/Spanish

Excel

Power BI

ERP

Team leadership

Cost control

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant field

Tools

ERP software

Job description

Mowi is the world’s leading producer of sustainably farm-raised Atlantic salmon, dedicated to delivering premium seafood with a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and environmental responsibility. As a fully integrated global company, Mowi operates across the entire value chain, from feed production and farming to processing and distribution, ensuring full traceability and consistently high standards.

Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, Mowi employs approximately 12,500 people across 26 countries and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The company is widely recognized as a global leader in sustainability and has been ranked among the most sustainable animal protein producers by the Coller FAIRR Index.

In the U.S., Mowi’s operations include Ducktrap River of Maine in Belfast, ME, a flagship smoked seafood facility known for combining traditional smoking techniques with modern production practices. Ducktrap plays a key role in delivering high-quality, value‑added products while supporting operational excellence and the local Maine community.

Learn more about the Mowi Company at https://mowi.com/

Learn more about MOWI Brand its full range of products at https://mowisalmon.us/products/

Summary

The Production Manager oversees operations at the Mowi Arlington facility, reporting to the Director of Factory Operations. This hands‑on role is based primarily on the production floor of a refrigerated seafood plant, with an estimated 80% floor time and 20% office time. The position involves working some 2nd shifts, Saturdays, and holidays. The manager leads a team of 2 senior supervisors, 10‑12 supervisors, and 150‑200 hourly staff, providing direction, training, and coaching. Key responsibilities include planning and managing schedules, processes, inventory, and ensuring company goals for safety, food safety, quality, OTIF, and efficiency are met. The role drives continuous improvement, working with data to address issues and meet productivity and material yield targets.

Responsibilities

• Actively supports all safety programs and training in collaboration with the Safety Coordinator. Evaluates risks, enforces safety procedures, and coaches or disciplines unsafe behaviors.
• Ensures compliance with food safety procedures and GMPs, including traceability, allergen control, labeling, and audit readiness. Works closely with the Quality Manager.
• Maintains production areas in audit‑ready condition and conducts tours for visitors and auditors.
• Oversees proper inventory rotation and prevents losses due to errors or mis‑rotation.
• Drives exceptional product quality and presentation standards.
• Manages hour‑by‑hour production schedules and OTIF (On Time In Full) performance, communicating potential delays proactively.
• Contributes to EBIT goals through effective planning, execution, and cost control, following Senior Management directives.
• Leads yield improvement initiatives such as portion control, spill‑point elimination, and giveaway reduction; uses data to communicate yield‑impacting issues.
• Increases labor productivity through scheduling, cross‑training, rotation, overtime control, and automation. Ensures all employees are properly trained.
• Supports OEE, ERP, and other operational and IT systems.
• Prepares and presents monthly performance reports in management meetings.
• Supports sustainability goals by reducing water and energy use and ensuring proper waste management.

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum 5 years of progressive production management experience in the food or perishables industry.
• Demonstrates excellent reliability, dependability, and attendance; consistently punctual and present.
• Able to work on feet in a cold, wet environment for 8+ hours per day.
• Willing to spend time on 2nd shift weekly, work Saturdays and holidays as needed, and respond to critical off‑hour communications.
• Upholds strong ethics, transparency, and the company’s code of conduct.
• Works effectively within a multi‑layered management structure and handles cross‑functional projects.
• Demonstrates strong listening and communication skills to foster teamwork, retention, and conflict resolution.
• Possesses strong analytical skills with the ability to use partial or imperfect data from various systems to identify, prioritize, and solve problems.
• Applies proficient math skills (algebra, geometry, statistics) to calculate costs, yields, portioning, productivity, and capacity.
• Works with a strong sense of urgency and focus on efficiency.
• Able to both give and receive constructive feedback effectively.
• Systems proficiency: intermediate Excel, basic Power BI, and intermediate ERP and master data management.
• Basic knowledge of Food Safety, HACCP, GMP, and SQF required.
• Prior fresh seafood experience preferred but not required.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly desired.

Additional Requirements

• Demonstrated proficiency in Excel, specifically the ability to build and manage complex production plans and schedules.
• Willingness to spend substantial time on the production floor and remain closely engaged with daily operations.
• Ability to set clear expectations and hold supervisors accountable for performance and results.
• Experience improving physical workflow and overall operational flow, including identifying bottlenecks and implementing process improvements.
• Ability to make firm decisions and enforce expectations while maintaining employee trust and positive working relationships.
• Comfortable managing variable yields, raw‑material availability, and changing production conditions.
• Ability to clearly communicate material shortages, production constraints, and recovery plans.
• Strong food‑safety judgment and the ability to maintain food‑safety standards under production pressure.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Science, Math, Engineering or related field required.

**All requirements and skills are considered to be essential, unless otherwise indicated**

**Mowi is an Equal Opportunity Employer**

The above job description is not an all‑encompassing list of duties and responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties and responsibilities may change without notice.