Production Manager

Empire Packing • Olympia, WA

19d

About The Position

The Production Manager develops and implements production plans, departmental policies, and procedures in coordination with Plant Management. The role oversees production functions to ensure they are completed efficiently, accurately, and on time in accordance with production, safety, quality, and sanitation standards. It tracks operational output—including efficiency, yield loss, product quality, inventory accuracy, and transaction accuracy—and adjusts production plans as needed to prevent service issues and inefficiencies and support financial targets.

The Production Manager supervises assigned personnel, including training and advising employees, managing schedules and staffing needs, setting goals, delegating work, communicating expectations, and supporting personnel decisions. The role works across functions to resolve operational issues, implements business changes while minimizing people impact, and maintains open communication with the team and Plant Manager. It also ensures compliance with safety policies, company policies, contracts, and procedures. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field, or 3–5 years of operational management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Safety, SQF, GMP, and HACCP training or certifications.
• Previous experience with budgeting and expense management, with a basic understanding of financial and accounting practices.
• Ability to prepare spreadsheets and use Microsoft Office products, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and/or Access, to analyze data and trends.
• Experience using continuous improvement tools to drive improvement.
• Experience enforcing safety rules and policies.
• Ability to lead a team-based approach to decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a results-oriented, challenging environment.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to achieve results through mentoring others.
• Ability to speak, read, and write English.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement effective production and department plans, policies, and procedures in coordination with Plant Management.
• Help establish departmental goals and objectives and ensure procedures support companywide strategic objectives.
• Maintain expert knowledge of production-floor positions and ensure company policies and procedures are followed.
• Oversee the efficient, timely, and accurate completion of production functions; identify and resolve problems promptly.
• Complete assigned reports and records, and ensure production meets established production, safety, and quality standards.
• Track operational output, including efficiency, yield loss, product quality, inventory accuracy, and transactional accuracy; address trends that could compromise financial targets.
• Adjust production plans shift by shift to prevent service issues and operational inefficiencies.
• Train and advise employees on daily needs and production methods, and lead efforts to improve performance and productivity.
• Manage personnel schedules and assess staffing needs.
• Provide leadership through goal setting, delegation, and communication; assist with performance appraisals, hiring, terminations, wage decisions, and promotions.
• Motivate, correct, and challenge personnel with a positive approach while demonstrating respect for employees.
• Communicate and coordinate across functions to resolve operational issues and drive business changes while minimizing impact on people.
• Maintain open dialogue with the assigned team and Plant Manager.
• Ensure team compliance with safety policies and procedures, and maintain product quality and sanitation standards.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, contracts, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning after 60 days of employment.
• Paid sick leave, vacation, and company-observed holidays.
• 401(k) with company match beginning after the first year of service, subject to the company vesting schedule.
• Continuous learning opportunities and career growth support through the Better Futures program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager