Production Manager

VENTURA FOODS LLC; Duluth (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Prescription, Dental, &Vision

Profit Sharing & 401(k) matching

Paid Vacation & Holidays

Employee Assistance Programs

Job summary

Ventura Foods LLC in Duluth, GA seeks a skilled Production Manager to lead the Production Department, supervise Supervisors and Operators, and drive efficiency and safety on the floor. The role reports to the Plant Manager and focuses on Lean initiatives and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate has 5–10 years in frontline supervision, strong knowledge of production costs and formulation, and the ability to coordinate across three shifts to meet customer demands.

Qualifications

• Requires 5–10 years in front-line supervision or equivalent.
• Understanding of production cost, performance, and product formulation.
• Ability to manage labor across three shifts and align staffing with production needs.

Responsibilities

• Direct production leadership of Supervisors and Operators.
• Develop daily/weekly/monthly production schedules to meet customer orders.
• Uphold safety, GMP, and quality standards across all shifts.
• Lead continuous improvement through RCA, kaizen, and SOP updates.
• Collaborate with Maintenance and Warehouse to ensure smooth material flow and equipment reliability.
• Coach and develop leaders; drive on-floor performance and efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Lean manufacturing

Communication

Coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Job description

Job Details: Level: Management, Job Location: Duluth Plant - Duluth, GA 30096, Job Shift: 1st/Day Shift, Job Category: Management

Why Join Us:

• Medical, Prescription, Dental, & Vision – coverage beginning on your 1st day for eligible employees
• Profit Sharing and 401(k) matching (after eligible criteria is met)
• Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays
• Employee Appreciation Events and Employee Assistance Programs

SUMMARY OF JOB:

Under the general supervision of the Plant Manager, is responsible for managing the Production Department, Supervisors and Processors. Provides reports and analysis to track Efficiencies and Continuous Improvement Plans.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides leadership and direction to Production Supervisors.
• Works with the plant scheduler to develop a production schedule daily, weekly, and monthly in an effort to meet customer orders.
• Ensures plant safety & production safety standards are daily by all and treated as the number 1 priority.
• Ensures product meets quality standards daily.
• Understands GMP requirements.
• Manages department labor & staffing requirements across all 3 shifts.
• Develops & edits SOP as required.
• Initiative and develop process improvements.
• Engaged and drives formal training program for all production department positions.
• Collaborates with other department peers and hourly employees to achieve a safety & quality product for our end user.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles and leads Root Cause Analysis (RCA) activities related to quality, safety, process performance, and customer complaints to drive continuous improvement.
• Skilled and fluent at coaching and developing leaders.
• Possesses strong mechanical aptitude and equipment knowledge, enabling effective collaboration with the Maintenance Department to improve equipment reliability, minimize downtime, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Leads new product introductions, production equipment installations, and plant trials, partnering with corporate stakeholders to evaluate results, optimize processes, and support efforts to secure new business opportunities.
• Conduct investigations and disciplinary action when situations require.
• Can lead daily leadership huddle by going over KPI’s and corrective actions.
• Can be flexible with his/her schedule to support production shifts (1st, 2nd or 3rd) and work weekends when required.
• Conducts department reviews.
• Data driven.
• Sound decision maker
• Assists in the interviewing and hiring process of all personnel.
• Hands on leader as this job requires 60-70% of time spent on the floor driving production performance improvements and efficiency.
• Training of Machine Operators as well as providing ongoing assessment of their performance.
• Reviews previous days production and downtime sheets as well as yields, labor, and temporary labor. Provides follow-up and corrective action, as needed.
• Determine day’s product usage to match production schedule.
• Completes “Efficiency Tracker” report from previous days production; material usage sheet for Data Coordinator and yield summary (product waste).
• Provides weekly work orders for Maintenance Manager.
• Provides daily instruction to Sanitation Supervisor for next day’s production.
• Approves employee payroll weekly.
• Establishes performance standards and methods of performance measurements and maintains appropriate production information.
• Coordinates with warehouse Manager/Inventory Control for capacity process and prepares plans to assure production capacity to meet sales requirements.
• Oversee and maintain involvement with warehouse operation at a higher level; Assure accurate flow of material issuing, shipping & receiving.
• Oversee kitchen operations from a quality and material management standpoint; raise the expectation and accountability; material usage vs material management to assure accurate BOM’s and inventory.

Qualifications:

QUALIFICATIONS: Previous experience in front line supervision or similar management position. Must understand production cost, performance, and a working knowledge of product formulation.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

A college degree in Business or equivalent experience of at least 5 to 10 years.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Must be able to effectively communicate with other Department Heads as well as effectively train subordinates.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Must be able to effectively track material usage, yield summar

REASONING ABILITY:

Reasoning needed to make process changes necessary to meet critical objectives.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Managerial Training Seminars.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Long hours, often involving critical adjustments to machinery.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Often wet and humid.

ADDITIONAL POSITION OR POSITIONS TO BE CROSS/TRAINED FOR:

Plant Manager, Production Supervisor.

Salary and benefits commensurate with experience.

I have read this job description and can perform the “Essential Duties” listed either with, or without, accommodation.

Our Culture

Our Culture reflects our commitment to treating every employee with respect and creating an environment where people can do their best work. We rely on a variety of strengths, backgrounds, and experiences across our teams to help us innovate, grow, and deliver for our customers. By fostering a workplace that is supportive, collaborative, and grounded in integrity, we continue to attract strong talent and meet the high expectations of a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Diversity & Inclusion:

Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive environment in which all employees are treated with respect is evident in our company culture and values. We believe that fostering an environment of inclusion and a focus on diversity across our organization is vital to attracting top talent, driving innovation, and meeting the high expectations of our customers in a rapidly evolving global marketplace

Ventura Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.