General Manager

The Panaro Group•Burlington, WI

About The Position

The General Manager is responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of the business, including production, people leadership, safety, quality, and financial performance. This position provides strategic direction, ensures compliance with regulations and company standards, and leads teams toward achieving organizational objectives

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree preferred
5+ years of leadership experience in operations, manufacturing, food production, or a related environment
Strong leadership and people-management skills with the ability to motivate and hold teams accountable
Results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability
Proficient in Microsoft Office and operational management systems
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to engage across all levels of the organization
Knowledge of HACCP, GMP, OSHA, and other applicable safety and food industry regulations
High level of integrity, professionalism, and adaptability
Strong time-management skills with the ability to multitask and manage competing priorities
Detail-oriented with a focus on efficiency, quality, and profitability
Self-motivated and capable of working effectively in a fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Responsibilities

Strategic Direction: Provide leadership and alignment with company goals to drive growth and scalability.
Team Development: Lead, coach, and develop management and frontline staff, fostering a culture of accountability and respect.
Reporting & Communication: Provide data-driven insights and monthly reports (COGS, labor, Capex) to leadership for long-term planning.
End-to-End Oversight: Manage daily operations from dough formulation and fermentation to parbaking, freezing, and packaging.
SOP Management: Develop and maintain standardized procedures for every stage of the manufacturing process to ensure product consistency.
Workflow Optimization: Establish efficient workflow models to maximize labor productivity and streamline process flows.
Regulatory Rigor: Ensure full compliance with FDA, HACCP, GMP, and OSHA standards.
Audit & Sanitation: Oversee internal/third-party audits, sanitation programs, and corrective action plans (CAPA).
Quality Assurance: Partner with QA to monitor product specs, testing protocols, traceability, and recall readiness.
Budgeting: Manage labor, resources, and budgets to hit profitability targets and control operational costs.
Performance Metrics: Monitor and improve KPIs, including yield, scrap rates, labor efficiency, and production variances.
Asset Management: Drive OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) by reducing waste and improving uptime.
Sourcing & Vendors: Oversee raw material procurement, vendor performance, and supply continuity.
Inventory Management: Enforce FIFO/FEFO controls for raw materials and frozen finished goods to ensure stock integrity.
R&D Collaboration: Partner with Sales, Marketing, and R&D on product scale-ups, packaging changes, and production qualifications.
Capacity Planning: Forecast growth needs and lead capital planning for equipment and facility expansion.
Problem Solving: Troubleshoot operational bottlenecks proactively to maintain continuous production.