Production Manager

LaClare Creamery; Malone (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Full benefits

Leadership development opportunities

Job summary

LaClare Creamery seeks a Production Manager to lead cheese production, packaging and sanitation, ensuring safety, quality and efficiency in every batch. You will drive continuous improvement, develop teams, and collaborate across departments to meet strategic goals.

Based in Malone, WI, this on-site role reports to the Director of Operations and focuses on delivering audit-ready processes, regulatory compliance, and strong safety leadership.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of food manufacturing experience.
• 3+ years of supervisory/leadership experience.
• Data-driven, process-focused leadership.
• Knowledge of pasteurization concepts (preferred).
• Experience with Lean process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead plant safety culture and prioritize safety in all duties.
• Oversee daily production operations, set schedules and ensure on-time delivery.
• Monitor KPIs and analyze data to drive improvement.
• Drive efficiency, yield, and employee development projects.
• Investigate non-conformities and implement CAPA.
• Maintain audit-ready standards and regulatory compliance (FSMA, OSHA, PMO, WDATCP).

Skills

Food manufacturing

Leadership

Data-driven

Lean process improvement

Project management

Pasteurization knowledge

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

PowerBI

SharePoint

Job description

Are you a data-driven, process focused leader with a passion for food manufacturing and operational excellence? LaClare Creamery is looking for a Production Manager to lead our cheese production departments and drive safety, quality, and efficiency in every batch. This is your opportunity to make an impact with a fast-growing, innovative company known for premium dairy products!

Why You’ll Love This Role

As our Production Manager, you’ll lead an exceptional team in the cheese make, cheese packaging and sanitation operations, ensuring compliance with food safety standards and delivering exceptional products to our customers. You’ll lead continuous improvement projects, foster a culture of engagement and accountability, promote employee development and collaborate across teams to achieve strategic goals.

Location: Malone, WI – role is 100% on site

Reports to: Director of Operations

What You’ll Do

• Lead and drive a plant safety culture, putting safety first in all responsibilities.
• Oversee daily production operations, set production schedules and ensure schedules are met accurately and on time.
• Monitor KPI’s and analyze data to understand department performance and drive improvement.
• Manage improvement projects in efficiency, yield, and employee development.
• Investigate non-conformities and implement corrective and preventative actions.
• Maintain audit-ready standards and regulatory compliance (FSMA, OSHA, PMO, WDATCP).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet operational and strategic objectives.

What We’re Looking For

We need a leader with a passion to win who thrives in a fast-paced environment and brings:

• 5+ years of food manufacturing experience in dynamic environments
• 3+ years of supervisory/leadership experience, including team development
• Data-driven, process focused leadership
• The ability to identify opportunities and develop solutions
• Commitment to employee safety and training initiatives
• Knowledge of food safety standards, cheese production processes, and pasteurization techniques (preferred)
• Experience with project management and Lean process improvement

Why Join LaClare Creamery?

• Be part of a growing, innovative company known for premium dairy products.
• Work in a collaborative environment that values integrity, accountability, and ownership.
• Enjoy opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• We offer competitive compensation & full benefits!

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

• Lead and drive plant safety culture and put safety first in all responsibilities.
• Lead and foster a culture of employee engagement/ownership, continuous improvement, accountability, and learning.
• Drive results against key performance indicators in the areas of safety, quality, efficiency, yield, and employee retention.
• Set staffing levels including reviewing, proposing and adjusting staffing levels to meet the needs of the organization.
• Oversee daily operations and direct team to ensure all tasks are completed on time and accurately.
• Establish and execute on weekly production schedules using scheduling system/methodology.Develop plans for optimal use of materials, machines and personnel.
• Lead production project management.Identify continuous improvement opportunities in the areas of efficiency, yield and employee development, develop the project plan, manage the project including sustaining results.
• Assign audits and organization of production programs to maintain audit-ready standards every day.
• Lead production non-conformity investigations, driving to root cause and creation of corrective and preventative actions (CAPA).
• Maintain current knowledge of pasteurization concepts and regulatory requirements.
• Support appointed production liaison for regulatory and customer inspections and ensure corrective actions are completed.
• Maintain strong knowledge of local, state and federal regulations as it pertains to functional areas (FSMA, OSHA, PMO, WDATCP, Bioterrorism).
• Implement standard work for all production duties that detail each step in cheese make and packaging procedures to ensure accurate, consistent, safe, and quality products every time.
• Maintain current knowledge of cheese manufacturing process, food safety controls and sanitation programs.
• Follows all policies and procedures LaClare Creamery has implemented regarding food and personal safety to assist in maintaining a safe work environment and safe, quality products at all times.
• Lives the Mosaic Way while promoting our values and culture drivers
• Other job duties as required and assigned

Education, Experience & Attributes

• Minimum 5-7 years of food manufacturing experience required, with proven ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-volume environments.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of supervisory/leadership experience, including performance management and team development preferred.
• Demonstrated success collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve operational and strategic goals required.
• Proficient in analyzing complex data sets to identify trends, patterns, and insights that inform strategic decision-making.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint is required.Experience with SharePoint and PowerBI preferred.
• Strong commitment to employee safety and training initiatives, driving compliance and continuous improvement preferred.
• Knowledge of food safety standards, cheese production processes, and dairy pasteurization knowledge/techniques preferred.
• Project management experience, including planning, execution, and delivery of cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience with Lean process improvement principles to optimize efficiency and reduce waste preferred.