Production Manager

Winland Foods•Grand Forks, ND

1d•$93,000 - $138,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Production Manager provides overall leadership for manufacturing departments, focusing on safety, productivity, quality, cost, equipment, and employee engagement. Through subordinate employees, the manager monitors and evaluates production processes and recommends ways to optimize product yields, equipment operation, and process control while reducing waste. The role promotes continuous improvement and a positive work environment, developing a culture of ownership and accountability. This position leads the manufacturing team and sets its strategic direction, manages hourly and exempt employees, and ensures plans and resources support business and regulatory requirements. It uses production and process data to improve productivity, uptime, reliability, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and product cost. The Production Manager also oversees safety, quality, staffing, schedules, equipment and production issue resolution, SQF standards, and security procedures. In the Plant Manager’s absence, the Production Manager may assume that role’s responsibilities. The role is based at 1801 N 36th Street, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and follows a day shift schedule supporting 24/7 manufacturing operations. Weekend and on-call duties may be involved. Minimal travel is required.

Requirements

At least 5 years of manufacturing experience and at least 3 years of management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Effective listening skills and ability to work as a team player.
Ability to work effectively with others, with good interpersonal and leadership skills.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Highly organized, critical-thinking ability, and capacity to multitask.
Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
Strong computer skills, including experience with SAP and Microsoft Office.
Ability to read, write, and communicate orally in English.
Ability to perform the stated physical activities, including sitting, standing, walking, reaching, stretching, stooping, bending, and using hands and fingers; may need to lift up to 55 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Food manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
Knowledge of food manufacturing and FDA/USDA, OSHA, and EPA regulations desired.
Continuous improvement and lean manufacturing mindset, with the ability to lead and support multiple projects, strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Establish leadership and strategic direction for the manufacturing team, ensuring plans support business results and a culture of ownership and accountability.
Manage a team of hourly and exempt employees.
Interpret safety policies and practices for employees and enforce safe work practices.
Manage direct reports through regular performance reviews and developmental activities to support high performance, engagement, and effective departmental results.
Use line-speed targets, setup guidelines, efficiency data, and process data to improve productivity, uptime, reliability, OEE, and product cost.
Set priorities and align resources to meet business and regulatory requirements for cost, financial controls, quality, safety, and business initiatives.
Manage product quality by understanding and communicating customer needs and ensuring expectations are consistently met according to standard work.
Determine work schedules, sequences, and assignments based on priorities, equipment availability, and personnel skills.
Diagnose equipment, ingredient, and packaging issues, coordinating with Engineering, Maintenance, or others to resolve production problems.
Ensure manufacturing areas are maintained in accordance with SQF standards.
Follow and enforce established security procedures to protect employees, facilities, and information systems.
Ensure clear and concise communication across all organizational levels.
Ensure regular safety inspections are conducted in manufacturing areas.
Drive manufacturing process improvements and implement systems and procedures that promote accountability and ownership in a changing environment.
Support continuous improvement projects through Root Cause Analysis and other management operating systems.
Assume Plant Manager responsibilities when the Plant Manager is absent, as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
401(k) with match.
Short-term disability, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and life insurance.
Health savings account (HSA) and flexible spending account (FSA).
Employee assistance program (EAP).
Hospital indemnity and accident insurance.
Identity and fraud protection plan.
Legal insurance.
Critical illness insurance.
Additional bonus potential.