Production Manager - Night Shift

Conagra Brands; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with company match

Stock purchase plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Flexible work schedules

Job summary

Conagra Brands in Waterloo, IA is seeking an Operations Leader to direct plant production and coordinate manufacturing activities to hit safety, quality, service, and performance targets. You will align people, materials, and equipment to maintain efficient production flow while fostering continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.

This role reports to the Operations Manager and works on a 7:00pm–7:00am 2/2/3 schedule pattern A, requiring strong leadership, communication, and

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of manufacturing, operations, or production experience.
• 1-3 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong operational leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven problem-solving experience related to production, process, and operational challenges.
• Experience working in a plant-based manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience influencing cross-functional partners to achieve business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Ensure food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance standards are consistently achieved.
• Lead production supervisors and frontline leaders to deliver operational performance targets and drive accountability.
• Allocate labor, materials, and resources to support production schedules and changing business priorities.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA requirements and company policies.
• Partner with engineering and maintenance teams to enhance equipment reliability and operational efficiency.
• Support workforce training, development, and succession planning to strengthen organizational capability.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, waste reduction, and process optimization.
• Promote and maintain a safe work environment throughout all production areas.
• Monitor, analyze, and communicate production, labor, and operational metrics to plant leadership.
• Identify and resolve production challenges to ensure operational continuity and performance achievement.

Skills

Production Leadership

Safety & Compliance

Operations Management

Team Leadership

Problem Solving

Communication

Regulatory Compliance

Continuous Improvement

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Reporting to the Operations Manager, you will lead plant production operations by directing production leadership teams and coordinating manufacturing activities to achieve safety, quality, service, and performance objectives. You will ensure the effective alignment of people, materials, and equipment to support efficient production flow while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance within a manufacturing environment.

Schedule: 7:00pm-7:00am 2/2/3 schedule pattern A

Taste of Your Responsibilities

• Ensure food safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance standards are consistently achieved.
• Lead production supervisors and frontline leaders to deliver operational performance targets and drive accountability.
• Allocate labor, materials, and resources to support production schedules and changing business priorities.
• Maintain compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements and company policies.
• Partner with engineering and maintenance teams to enhance equipment reliability and operational efficiency.
• Support workforce training, development, and succession planning to strengthen organizational capability.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, waste reduction, and process optimization.
• Promote and maintain a safe work environment throughout all production areas.
• Monitor, analyze, and communicate production, labor, and operational metrics to plant leadership.
• Identify and resolve production challenges to ensure operational continuity and performance achievement.

Ingredients Required for Your Success

• High School Diploma or GED Required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 4-6 years of manufacturing, operations, or production experience.
• 1-3 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong operational leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven problem-solving experience related to production, process, and operational challenges.
• Experience working in a plant-based manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Demonstrated success leading teams and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience influencing cross-functional partners to achieve business objectives.

Physical Requirements

More information about essential tasks and the facility will be shared during the hiring process. This role may require you to be in our manufacturing facilities. When visiting these sites, the physical requirements below may apply: You may be required to walk around the facility, climb stairs/ladders, kneel, or perform repetitive tasks that require hand-eye coordination. You may be required to lift or carry materials that can vary in weight and size. This is a manufacturing environment with large, moving equipment. Noise levels can be high, and temperatures may vary.

Compensation

Pay Range:$82,000-$120,000 The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.

Benefits

• Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement
• Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
• Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement
• Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities

Our Company

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.

Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.

Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®.

Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome.

Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.