Bakery Production Manager

SUGAR FOODS LLC•Villa Rica, GA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Bakery Production Manager owns a designated production process area and shift at Sugar Foods’ Villa Rica food manufacturing, packaging, and distribution facility. The role works closely with the Plant Manager, supervisors, lead operators, operators, maintenance technicians, and quality technicians to ensure production lines are safely set up, operated, maintained, and troubleshot. Equipment includes ovens, baggers, case packers, case erectors, and Ropaks. This is a fast-paced, 24-hour operation, and managers are expected to work on the production floor, support their teams, remove obstacles, and model sound judgment with a strong focus on safety and product quality. The manager oversees daily production performance, staffing and schedules, shift start-up and hand-off, material usage and waste, quality, safety, and continuous improvement. The role includes coaching and developing supervisors and operators, identifying training needs, and working with HR on onboarding and training new hires. Managers are expected to spend most of their time on the floor, collaborate with colleagues, adapt to changing business needs, and work 10 to 12 hours a day, five days a week. The second shift runs from 3:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., and managers are expected to be present for shift hand-offs and may need to work alternate or off-hours shifts as needed.

Requirements

Five years of hands-on managerial experience.
Experience working in food processing and/or packaging.
Strong understanding and working knowledge of manufacturing equipment.
Experience generating and executing tactical and strategic plans.
Experience identifying talent, building teams, and developing and coaching supervisors and other staff.

Responsibilities

Manage the production area, team, and responsibilities consistently to standard.
Walk the production floor with purpose and regularly engage supervisors and team members throughout the shift.
Learn and maintain a functional understanding of the production area and its lines.
Develop supervisors and operators as proactive problem solvers and support team training and development.
Drive line performance to meet or exceed safe production goals, including stated targets of zero quality defects, zero safety violations, and 80% OEE machine/line productivity.
Monitor deviations and communicate them in real time with the GM and Maintenance.
Ensure supervisors and operators have the tools and materials needed for successful production runs.
Manage schedules, crewing, and headcount to support timely start-up and shift hand-off.
Ensure GMPs, PPE, safety rules, and machine safety mechanisms are followed and functioning.
Ensure successful production start-up and shift hand-off, including reviewing schedules and hand-off reports and coordinating communication between shifts and line teams.
Review shift reports to identify trends and issues.
Review and execute continuous improvement plans with the GM and team; share improvement ideas and identify process improvements.
Monitor and control material usage and waste.
Provide clear feedback and goals, encourage team members, and recognize their contributions.
Identify training needs by evaluating supervisors’ and operators’ strengths and weaknesses; work with HR on onboarding, development, and training plans for new hires.
Escalate operational issues to the GM.
Walk the floor with supervisors to identify and remove obstacles, prepare for shift requirements, and coordinate line setup with material handlers, operators, line associates, and temporary staff.
Inspect machines and lines for safe start-up readiness, support supervisors with machine start-up and operation, monitor production output, and coordinate mechanical problem resolution with Maintenance.
Routinely inspect products for conformity to specifications, including measurements, code dates, and weights; ensure required quality checks and records are completed, such as scale, seal, and package-integrity checks.
Ensure supervisors coordinate operator break relief.
Keep preventative maintenance current, maintain a clean and organized work area, and optimize the use of line associates and equipment resources.
Train the team on safety rules, maintain 5S, ensure safety devices and tools are intact and properly used and stored, and coach team members to report unsafe conditions.
Own product quality and promote First Time Quality; ensure lines are set to quality standards and empower the team to stop production when quality is below expectations.
Work with Maintenance to keep machines in good condition.