Senior Production Manager

Bimbo Bakeries USA; Elkhart (IN); On-site; USD 100,200 - 140,300; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range: $100,200–$140,300

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Annual Bonus Eligibility

Job summary

Bimbo Bakeries USA is seeking an experienced Production Department Leader in Indiana to drive operational excellence, budget planning, and team development. This role empowers Team Leaders and Associates to meet safety, quality, and cost targets while upholding cross‑functional collaboration and a One Team culture.

The position emphasizes coaching, data‑driven decision making, and adherence to bakery standards to deliver world‑class production and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• 10+ years of hands‑on management experience in a food manufacturing environment.
• Extensive knowledge of bakery operations and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the financial health of the production department, creating and maintaining annual budgets.
• Lead the implementation and execution of the Operations Excellence Playbook.
• Lead the growth and development of Team Leaders and Associates.
• Build a culture that values the person, the community, and integrity.
• Partner with leadership to identify and implement continuous improvement strategies.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and government regulations.

Skills

Leadership

People Development

Budgeting

Operational Excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

Have you ever enjoyed Arnold®, Brownberry® or Oroweat® bread? A Thomas’® English muffin or bagel? Or perhaps snacked on a Sara Lee®, Entenmann’s® or Marinela® cake or donut? If the answer is yes, then you know Bimbo Bakeries USA!

More than 20,000 associates in bakeries, sales centers, offices and on sales routes work to ensure our consumers have the freshest products at every meal. In addition to competitive pay and benefits, we provide a safe and inclusive work environment that appreciates diversity, promotes development and allows our associates to be their authentic selves.

Come join the largest baking company in the world and our family of 20,000 associates nationwide!

Top Reasons To Work At Bimbo Bakeries USA

Salary Range: $100,200 - $140,300

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Annual Bonus Eligibility

Position Summary

Production Department Leaders play an important role in helping BBU, win as one team, bake with world class practices, grow our people, and serve our customers. They embrace the consumer by producing high-quality products and ensure operational capabilities by supporting their team in executing the Operations Excellence Playbook. Our senior production department leaders empower and involve their team to achieve key performance metrics and equip each Team Leader to win their shift. They create a compelling culture by engaging and developing their team through effective coaching strategies and expect ownership and accountability to help their team achieve results across people, safety, quality, service, and cost.

401k & Company Match

Key Job Responsibilities

• Oversee the financial health of the production department, creating and maintaining annual budgets.
• Lead the implementation and execution of the Operations Excellence Playbook.
• Lead the growth and development of Team Leaders and Associates.
• Build a culture that values the person, the community, and always acts with integrity.
• Partner with Business Unit leadership, bakery leadership team, and cross‑functional teams to identify and implement continuous improvement strategies.
• Ensure compliance with GB/BBU policies and requirements.
• Uphold and promote our E5 Leadership Behaviors: Embrace the Consumer, Ensure Operational Capabilities, Empower and Involve, Engage and Develop, and Expect Ownership and Accountability.
• Coach Team Leaders toward an empowered, problem‑solving mentality to consistently achieve world‑class standards.
• Operate with a One Team mentality by supporting Team Leaders in collaborating across departments to solve issues and ensure production is to schedule and shipment to order.
• Set priorities for department and facilitate problem‑solving processes and teams to identify, implement, and communicate solutions.
• Deliver on key performance indicators for people, quality, safety, service, and cost.
• Engage and develop core competencies in Team Leaders through onboarding, training, coaching, and consistent performance feedback.
• Achieve all safety goals. Deliver safety awareness programs in order to eliminate unsafe acts and conditions that contribute to workplace injuries. Comply with workplace standards, company policies and government regulations.
• Ensure product quality by identifying, prioritizing, and bringing solutions to focus issues.
• Manage budgets for capital investments, pan glazing, downtime, and damages.
• Equip Team Leaders to serve sales by analyzing data to ensure all production processes are running efficiently and the team is set up for success.
• Ensure the accuracy of data entered into information systems.

Key Behavioral Competencies

• Operational Execution: This role requires the ability to think strategically about business needs, set data‑based priorities, and build plans with Team Leaders, fellow Department Leaders, and their Bakery Leader to achieve improved business KPIs. The ideal candidate will have experience setting, achieving, and exceeding business performance targets. They will consistently strive to achieve goals, even in the face of obstacles, and will proactively develop contingency plans to ensure goals are met. They will be energized by working toward tangible goals and actively seek opportunities to enhance the status quo, aiming to exceed targets. They will also maintain and execute meeting, reporting, and communication cadences.
• Set the Standard: This role has overall responsibility for achievement of Operations Excellence standards and practices in their department. The ideal candidate will be organized and detail‑oriented, ensuring that standards and practices are followed meticulously. Their organized approach will contribute to the smooth functioning of operations and the attainment of established standards.
• Driving our Culture: Our GB values and culture are what make our company different. It is critical that the Department Leader builds a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, providing consistent leadership in working with and managing bakery leadership and associates while emphasizing teamwork and collaboration that leads to high‑quality products, high associate engagement, and successful financial results. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in building a strong team and the ability to continue inspiring and engaging all associates. They will foster a positive work environment, promote collaboration, and motivate team members to achieve their full potential.
• Be a Vision Carrier and Change Leader: Drive the realization of Operations Excellence efforts across our manufacturing facilities and processes. Utilize strong decision‑making skills and flexibility in order to drive sustainable operational initiatives and processes. Provide the necessary leadership to promote change throughout the organization and continue to develop and lead a world‑class continuous improvement organization. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of commonly used process control and improvement tools, allowing them to guide and facilitate the continuous improvement efforts within the bakery. They will leverage their expertise to implement effective strategies and methodologies that enhance operational efficiency and drive positive outcomes.
• Developing our Talent: While driving accountability for results, be supportive and effective at developing individuals to assume greater levels of responsibility and personal contribution. The ideal candidate will have the ability to support the continuous improvement of a world‑class bakery through coaching Team Leaders and Associates. Following the Individual Development Planning Process, they will prioritize talent development and provide guidance to individuals, enabling them to grow, assume greater responsibilities, and make meaningful contributions to the organization’s success.

Education And Work History

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred.
• A combination of education, training and experience that results in demonstrated competency to perform the work may be substituted.
• 10+ years of hands‑on management experience and direct manufacturing experience with a company in the food industry.
• Extensive knowledge of bakery operations/processing/formulations.
• Strong technical skills and working knowledge of bakery equipment.
• Knowledge of safety related issues including compliance with State, Federal and Local regulations.

The physical and mental demands described in each job posting are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of each job. Reasonable accommodations may be requested to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of each job.

Bimbo Bakeries USA is an equal opportunity employer with a policy that provides equal employment opportunity for applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, any other classification protected by law.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.