Production Manager

Sterling Engineering; Itasca (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) with match

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Production Manager to oversee 1st shift operations in Elk Grove Village, IL. This role requires a hands-on leader passionate about ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency. Responsibilities include managing production activities, ensuring compliance with USDA and food safety regulations, and developing strong teams. Ideal candidates should have over 5 years of leadership experience in food production.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in meat processing or related food production.
• Proven success in leading and developing teams within a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
• Strong knowledge of USDA requirements, food safety programs, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations to achieve output, quality, and customer service goals.
• Ensure compliance with product quality standards, equipment reliability, and operator performance.
• Monitor production costs, contribute to budget planning, and address labor/cost variances.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to support employee engagement and collaboration.
• Assess workforce skills, identify gaps, and implement training programs to strengthen team performance.
• Maintain compliance with USDA, FDA, OSHA, GMP, HACCP, and other regulatory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in food manufacturing

Job description

Overview

Title: Production Manager – Food Manufacturing

Location: Elk Grove Village, IL

Compensation: $100k–$130k (based on experience)

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match

Note: This range is provided by Sterling Engineering. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

About the Role

A growing food manufacturing facility is seeking an experienced Production Manager to lead 1st shift operations. This individual will be responsible for overseeing production activities to ensure safety, quality, and efficiency while maintaining compliance with USDA and food safety regulations. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and is passionate about developing strong, engaged teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations to achieve output, quality, and customer service goals.
• Ensure compliance with product quality standards, equipment reliability, and operator performance.
• Monitor production costs, contribute to budget planning, and address labor/cost variances.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to support employee engagement and collaboration.
• Assess workforce skills, identify gaps, and implement training programs to strengthen team performance.
• Support long-term growth initiatives through effective production planning and resource optimization.
• Maintain compliance with USDA, FDA, OSHA, GMP, HACCP, and other regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in food manufacturing.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in meat processing or related food production.
• Proven success in leading and developing teams within a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
• Strong knowledge of USDA requirements, food safety programs, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and process improvement skills.