Assistant Mill Manager

Barrett Petfood•Brainerd, MN

6d•$65,000 - $75,000

About The Position

The Assistant Mill Manager reports directly to the Mill Manager and assists with the daily oversight of mill operations. The role helps coordinate Mill Supervisors and mill employees to support production goals, employee development, equipment reliability, and compliance with company standards. While the Mill Manager has primary responsibility for the department’s overall performance, strategy, and long-term development, the Assistant Mill Manager supports daily execution, coordinates employees and production activities, resolves operational issues, and maintains continuity when the Mill Manager is unavailable. The Assistant Mill Manager assists with processing raw ingredients according to production schedules, product specifications, and established procedures. The position provides hands-on operational support and technical guidance, supports sanitation and housekeeping, collaborates with other departments, and contributes to performance reviews, process improvements, and departmental projects. The role also supports employee training and safe work practices. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The stated salary range is $65,000–$75,000 per year. The job is based in a manufacturing environment with potentially hot, cold, wet, humid, noisy, or fluctuating-temperature conditions. Physical duties include extended standing and walking, lifting up to 50 pounds, and routinely climbing stairs and ladders, including access to elevated work areas.

Requirements

At least 2–3 years of manufacturing or industrial production experience.
Working knowledge of mill equipment, grinding processes, raw material handling, and production workflows.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout a manufacturing facility.
Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 50 pounds.
Ability to bend, reach, climb stairs, stoop, kneel, and perform other physical activities required in a manufacturing environment.
Ability to safely and routinely climb and descend stairs and ladders, including accessing elevated work areas and equipment.
Ability to maintain balance and stability on elevated platforms, stairs, ladders, and uneven or wet surfaces.
Ability to work in potentially hot, cold, wet, humid, noisy, or temperature-fluctuating areas.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing or industrial production experience in milling or food manufacturing.
Previous leadership, team lead, or supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Assist the Mill Manager with leadership, direction, and oversight of Mill Supervisors and the mill team to meet daily production goals and quality standards.
Assist with training, developing, and evaluating employees through coaching, feedback, and guidance.
Help coordinate staffing, employee assignments, and production priorities across shifts.
Reinforce compliance with company policies, standard operating procedures, food safety requirements, and workplace health and safety regulations.
Communicate production performance, staffing concerns, equipment issues, and operational challenges to the Mill Manager.
Provide day-to-day leadership and decision-making support when the Mill Manager is unavailable.
Help maintain consistent communication between shifts and departments about production needs, process changes, and outstanding concerns.
Support departmental goals, employee performance, and a safe and productive work environment.
Assist in managing daily mill operations so raw ingredients are ground and processed according to schedules, specifications, and procedures.
Monitor production activities to support safe, efficient, and consistent processing and meet quality standards and downstream manufacturing requirements.
Provide hands-on operational support and technical guidance to supervisors and mill employees.
Help identify and resolve inefficiencies involving production processes, raw materials, equipment performance, and employee training.
Support mill sanitation activities and maintain departmental housekeeping standards.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Warehouse, and other departments to resolve operational concerns and prevent delays.
Assist with reviewing production performance and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and maintain product quality.
Serve as a technical resource and help train employees on equipment operation, production processes, and safe work practices.
Support departmental projects, process improvements, and implementation of operational changes.
Perform other duties as assigned to support mill operations and manufacturing objectives.