Production Manager - Hattiesburg, MS

wispakcareers; Hattiesburg (MS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Paid Time Off

Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision

Flexible Spending Accounts

Critical Illness & Accident Coverage

Life Insurance

Short & Long-Term Disability

401(K) with Profit Sharing

Parental Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Wis-Pak is seeking a Production Manager in Mississippi to serve as the systems architect behind daily operations, leadership development, and strategic problem solving. You will design and execute frameworks that drive results, empower teams, and eliminate inefficiencies while ensuring food safety standards are met.

Acting as second-in-command to the Facility Manager, you will build daily management systems and lead continuous improvement in sanitation, traceability, and cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Food Science, or related field preferred.
• Proven leadership in manufacturing or production environments.
• Mastery of structured problem-solving methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.).
• Strong planning, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and production management tools.
• Excellent communication skills—clear, direct, and data-driven.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis.
• Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, and comprehend English at a level necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Responsibilities

• Lead and optimize staffing across hourly and salaried production roles to meet dynamic demand.
• Act as second-in-command to the Facility Manager, stepping in seamlessly when needed.
• Build and refine daily management systems that drive accountability and performance.
• Apply structured problem-solving and root-cause analyses to eliminate recurring issues.
• Develop and mentor frontline leaders through targeted coaching and training programs.
• Resolve production planning challenges with precision and foresight.
• Champion GMP across all production activities; ensure FDA/SQF/HACCP compliance.
• Lead internal audits and support external inspections with confidence.
• Drive continuous improvement in sanitation, allergen control, and traceability systems.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with procurement, quality, and maintenance teams.
• Maintain a culture of safety, cleanliness, and operational discipline.

Skills

Leadership

Problem solving

Communication

Planning & Organization

Analytical thinking

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Food Science

Tools

Microsoft Office

Production management tools

Job description

Join the Team That Fuels Your Favorite Beverages

At Wis-Pak, we're more than just a manufacturer--we're the driving force behind some of the most recognized and loved beverage brands in the country, including Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Lipton Iced Tea, Aquafina, Vita Ice, Klarbrunn, and Bubbl'r. Chances are, you've enjoyed one of our products at your favorite restaurant or picked one up at your local store.

As a billion-dollar organization, we're growing fast and innovating even faster. We're looking for passionate, forward-thinking individuals who want to make a real impact. If you're ready to help shape the future of manufacturing and distribution, Wis-Pak is the place for you.

Why You'll Love Working Here

We believe in taking care of our people. Here's what you can expect:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Critical Illness & Accident Coverage
• Life Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability
• 401(K) with Profit Sharing
• Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Holidays

About the Role

AsourProductionManager,youwillserveasthesystemsarchitectbehinddailyoperations,leadershipdevelopment,andstrategic

problemsolving.Youwilldesignandexecuteframeworksthatdriveresults,empowerteams,andeliminateinefficiencies—whileensuringfullcompliancewithfoodsafetyandregulatorystandards.Thisisnotjustajob.It’salaunchpadtoaFacility

Managerroleandbeyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadandoptimizestaffingacrosshourlyandsalariedproductionrolestomeetdynamicdemand
• Actassecond-in-commandtotheFacilityManager,steppinginseamlesslywhenneeded
• Buildandrefinedailymanagementsystemsthatdriveaccountabilityandperformance
• Applystructuredproblem-solvingandrootcauseanalysistoeliminaterecurringissues
• Developandmentorfrontlineleadersthroughtargetedcoachingandtrainingprograms
• Resolveproductionplanningchallengeswithprecisionandforesight
• ChampionGoodManufacturingPractices(GMP)acrossallproductionactivities
• EnsurecompliancewithFDA,SQF,HACCP,andotherfoodsafetystandards
• Leadinternalauditsandsupportexternalinspectionswithconfidenceandclarity
• Drivecontinuousimprovementinsanitation,allergencontrol,andtraceabilitysystems
• Collaboratecross-functionallywithprocurement,quality,andmaintenanceteams
• Maintainacultureofsafety,cleanliness,andoperationaldiscipline

DISCLAIMER: The information listed above is not intended to be an all-inclusive job description. A full list of duties and responsibilities for this position is available upon request.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’sdegreeinEngineering,Operations,FoodScience,orrelatedfieldpreferred
• Provenleadershipinmanufacturingorproductionenvironments
• Masteryofstructuredproblem-solvingmethodologies(Lean,SixSigma,etc.)
• Strongplanning,organizational,andanalyticalskills
• ProficiencyinMicrosoftOfficeandproductionmanagementtools
• Excellentcommunicationskills—clear,direct,anddata-driven.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. The company will not sponsor employment visas now or in the future
• Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, and comprehend English at a level necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Our Commitment to You

Wis-Pak/WP Beverage is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We comply with EEOC regulations and use E-Verify to ensure employment eligibility.

Ready to make a difference?

At Wis-Pak, you will not simply supervise a shift — you will lead people, drive performance, and help shape how daily operations are executed. If you are ready to lead from the floor, solve problems with discipline, and grow your leadership impact, we want to meet you.