Sr. Food Production Manager

Accurate Personnel; Lacey (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in food and beverage manufacturing is looking for a Senior Kitchen Manager to oversee operational excellence across multiple facilities. This role focuses on strategic planning, cost management, and cross-functional collaboration to improve processes and ensure compliance. Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership skills and a background in food production, aiming to enhance efficiency and drive quality throughout the departments.

Benefits

401(k)

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in a related field.
• 5+ years progressive leadership experience in food production.
• Experience managing multi-site operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational and cost performance of kitchen locations.
• Manage day-to-day cheese production operations.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and quality regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Cost Management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or Operations Management

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Job description

6 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

Reports To: Senior Group General Manager – Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Travel: Up to 50% (Domestic)

Job Summary:

The Senior Kitchen Manager is responsible for the strategic planning, operational oversight, and performance optimization of the Cheese, Kitchen, Ripening, and R&D departments across multiple facilities. This leadership role is focused on improving processes, reducing costs, ensuring compliance, and collaborating cross-functionally with procurement, product development, and quality assurance teams. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in food production, team leadership, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Key Responsibilities: Operations Management

• Evaluate the operational and cost performance of all kitchen locations.
• Lead the development and execution of improvement plans focused on cost reduction and efficiency.
• Ensure adherence to standard operating procedures and demand planning protocols.
• Forecast material, labor, and overhead costs; identify trends and drive corrective action.
• Identify and implement process improvements related to vendor management.
• Collaborate with purchasing and operations teams to drive cost-effective sourcing and process standardization.
• Support the launch of new products by partnering with R&D and Product Development teams on cost, feasibility, and timelines.

Cheese Department Oversight

• Manage day-to-day cheese production operations across locations.
• Oversee the development and continuity of organic system plans.
• Ensure accurate cheese receiving and inventory tracking.
• Lead training and retraining initiatives to ensure team alignment and efficiency.

Ripening Department Oversight

• Oversee all operations and costs related to ripening functions.
• Ensure accurate inventory control and 100% traceability across locations.
• Develop ripening processes to support scalability and compliance.
• Maintain organic system plans and quality assurance protocols.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Partner with finance and accounting to review reports and align performance with P&L goals.
• Provide leadership support and guidance across teams and departments.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Operations Management, or a related field (preferred).
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in food processing, kitchen production, or operations.
• Demonstrated success in managing multi-site or regional operations.
• Experience with perishable goods, produce, or cheese/fermented products is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with Organic System Plans (OSP) and food safety programs.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in MS Office, Excel, and data analysis tools.
• Experience with MRP and WMS systems; SAP experience preferred.
• Knowledge of inventory systems and quality assurance protocols.
• Proficient in Gold Stock or similar ERP systems (preferred).
• Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities across diverse teams.
• Ability to manage high-travel schedules and shifting priorities.
• Results-oriented with a hands-on, collaborative leadership style.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Prolonged periods working on a computer.
• Capable of standing and walking in production environments for extended periods.
• Exposure to food processing and distribution center environments with varying temperature conditions.
• Occasional travel to vendor sites, partner facilities, and kitchen locations.

ABOUT ACCURATE PERSONNEL

Do you need your next job fast? Accurate Personnel is here to help! As an industry-leading full-service staffing agency, we have all the tools you need to start earning that next paycheck soon. Send us your application and our team will instantly get to work on finding you the right placement to fit your needs. Accurate Personnel has been a provider of temporary job services and direct hire search for 45 years. Our expertise has allowed us to grow from a regional Chicagoland office into a nationwide search firm that services over 500 clients while never losing sight of personalized service. Let Accurate work for you. Apply with us today!

—

Accurate Personnel provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Quality Assurance and Production

• Industries

  Food and Beverage Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Accurate Personnel by 2x

Inferred from the description for this job

401(k)

Vision insurance

Medical insurance

Get notified when a new job is posted.

Sign in to set job alerts for “Food Production Manager” roles.

Gig Harbor, WA $60,000.00-$65,000.00 1 month ago

GM and Food (General Merchandise, Closing, Fulfillment, Inbound, Food and Beverage , Food Service, Starbucks) (T0341)

Dining Services, District Manager In Training

Tacoma, WA $78,000.00-$82,000.00 3 weeks ago

Lakewood, WA $89,290.00-$120,540.00 3 days ago

Tacoma, WA $89,290.00-$120,540.00 3 days ago

Tacoma, WA $89,290.00-$120,540.00 2 days ago

Tacoma, WA $89,290.00-$120,540.00 3 days ago

Spanaway, WA $81,260.00-$109,700.00 3 days ago

Tacoma, WA $89,290.00-$120,540.00 2 days ago

Marriott Tacoma Downtown - Food & Beverage Supervisor-Full Service Restaurant 1

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.