Production Manager

Spirit Tea; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food production company in Chicago is seeking an experienced Production Manager to oversee order fulfillment, production output, and inventory at their warehouse. The ideal candidate has over 3 years of experience in production management within food/beverage sectors and is committed to maintaining safety and compliance standards. This role requires strong organizational and leadership skills to motivate and manage the production team effectively. Competitive compensation and a dynamic work environment are offered.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in production management, ideally in food/beverage or a regulated consumer goods industry.
• Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced warehouse environment requiring strict hygiene protocols.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all order fulfillment, production output, and inventory management are executed.
• Maintain a clean, organized warehouse environment.
• Lead and document regular safety training for the team.
• Set and delegate weekly packing targets for the team.
• Manage and mentor a team of Production Assistants.

Skills

Organizational skills

Knowledge of GMP/HACCP

Leadership abilities

Systems proficiency (Cin7, Shopify)

Tools

Cin7

Shopify

Job description

The Production Manager is the primary lead responsible for all order fulfillment, production output, and physical inventory at our Chicago warehouse. This role is designed for a purpose-driven leader who can work with urgency while fostering a healthy, positive, and high-performing environment for a team of Production Assistants. You will bridge the gap between technical production processes and people management, ensuring that every order is fulfilled accurately, efficiently, and in total compliance with safety and sanitation standards.

Warehouse Maintenance & Organization

• Facility Upkeep: Maintain a "tour-ready" warehouse by ensuring the space is clean, organized, and free of debris at all times.
• Workflow Optimization: Continuously evaluate and improve the physical layout of the production floor to reduce motion waste and improve ergonomics for the team.
• Equipment Care: Oversee the daily cleaning and basic maintenance of all production equipment and packing stations.
• Waste Management: Manage the proper disposal of production waste, recycling, and composting in accordance with facility guidelines.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• GMP & HACCP Oversight: Enforce Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and monitor HACCP plans to ensure product safety and quality integrity.
• Safety Training: Lead and document regular safety training; serve as the primary advocate for a "Safety First" culture.
• Audit Readiness: Ensure the facility meets all health inspection and third-party certification standards through meticulous record-keeping.
• Directly manage and mentor a team of Production Assistants and the Production Lead.
• Create and manage weekly production team schedules to ensure adequate coverage and labor efficiency.
• Oversee the Production Lead, advising on daily production flow and identifying efficiency gains.
• Set and delegate weekly "tea par" packing targets and ensure the team consistently meets these goals.
• Utilize internal systems ( Cin7, Shopify ) to monitor daily demand and communicate weekly PAR needs to procurement.
• Lead weekly cycle counts and comprehensive end-of-month inventory audits to ensure 100% stock accuracy.

Traits of a Strong Candidate

• Organizational Expert: A natural "neat-freak" who understands that a clean warehouse is a safe and efficient warehouse.
• Compliance-Minded: Deep commitment to food safety (GMP/HACCP) and OSHA workplace standards.
• Systems Proficiency: Experience with ERP/e-commerce platforms like Cin7 and Shopify.
• Leadership: Ability to motivate a large team to maintain high standards even during high-volume periods.

Requirements

• Experience: 3+ years in production management, ideally in food/beverage or a regulated consumer goods industry.
• Physical: Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Environment: Comfortable in a fast-paced warehouse environment requiring strict hygiene protocols.