Production Operations Manager

The Gateway Institute; Hancock Township (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation + PTO

SIMPLE IRA 3% match

Relocation assistance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Vollwerth and Co in Hancock, Michigan is seeking a Production Operations Manager to lead daily production and packaging. This in-person, full-time role focuses on food safety, sanitation, quality, staffing and operational performance.

You will oversee HACCP compliance, supervise teams, assist recruiting, manage materials, and coordinate production scheduling to improve efficiency and profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in operations management or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in food manufacturing or meat processing preferred.
• Strong leadership and communications skills with ability to coach teams.
• Solid planning, delegation, and conflict-management abilities.
• Understanding of HACCP, sanitation, quality control, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience with production scheduling and manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations across production and packaging, including schedules, staffing, workflow, and priorities.
• Monitor production performance and lead improvements focused on efficiency, productivity, quality, and profitability.
• Serve as the HACCP Coordinator and oversee HACCP compliance, records, verification, corrective actions, sanitation procedures, and quality-control processes.
• Supervise, coach, train, and develop production and packaging employees while reinforcing accountability, teamwork, safety, and clear communication.
• Support recruiting, selection, placement, and onboarding of production team members with company leadership.
• Manage purchasing and availability of production materials, including meat, casings, and packaging materials.
• Coordinate material needs with production schedules, inventory, supplier lead times, quality standards, and cost objectives.
• Operate production equipment in a backup capacity when needed and train operators on proper equipment use and procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Planning

Delegation

Coaching

Conflict management

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Organizing

Decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in operations management

Job description

Vollwerth and Co is seeking a Production Operations Manager to lead daily production and packaging operations at our Hancock, Michigan facility. This full-time, in-person role is responsible for keeping production running efficiently while maintaining high standards for food safety, sanitation, quality, staffing, and operational performance. Relocation assistance is available.

What We Offer

• $60,000-$90,000 base salary plus a year-end bonus.
• Three weeks of vacation plus PTO accrued at six hours per week.
• SIMPLE IRA with a 3% company match.
• Relocation assistance and employee discounts.

What You Will Do

• Lead daily operations across production and packaging, including schedules, staffing, workflow, and priorities.
• Monitor production performance and lead improvements focused on efficiency, productivity, quality, and profitability.
• Serve as the HACCP Coordinator and oversee HACCP compliance, records, verification, corrective actions, sanitation procedures, and quality-control processes.
• Supervise, coach, train, and develop production and packaging employees while reinforcing accountability, teamwork, safety, and clear communication.
• Support recruiting, selection, placement, and onboarding of production team members with company leadership.
• Manage purchasing and availability of production materials, including meat, casings, and packaging materials.
• Coordinate material needs with production schedules, inventory, supplier lead times, quality standards, and cost objectives.
• Operate production equipment in a backup capacity when needed and train operators on proper equipment use and procedures.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in operations management or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
• Relevant production experience, preferably in food manufacturing or meat processing.
• Strong leadership, communication, planning, delegation, coaching, and conflict-management skills.
• Strong critical-thinking, problem-solving, organizing, and decision-making abilities.
• Knowledge of business management, human resource management, and project management principles.
• Working knowledge of HACCP, sanitation programs, quality control, regulatory compliance, production scheduling, and manufacturing operations is strongly preferred.

Work Environment & Location

This is a full-time, in-person position in Hancock, Michigan. Work takes place across office, production, packaging, and sanitation areas and may include noise, temperature variation, machinery, and required personal protective equipment.

About Vollwerth And Co

Founded in 1915 in Hancock, Michigan, Vollwerth and Co is a multigenerational family business producing high-quality sausage from fresh ingredients and traditional recipes for customers throughout Michigan and Wisconsin.

Vollwerth and Co is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to any status protected by applicable law.