2nd Shift Production Manager

Urban Farmer•Manteno, IL

About The Position

The Production Manager oversees production in the Toppings and Bakery department, ensuring consistent processes and food safety compliance. The role requires significant time on the production floor to supervise operations, coach shift leaders, and ensure that safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are consistently achieved across the shift. The manager oversees production activities across shifts, supports food safety and regulatory audit readiness, coordinates with Planning, and monitors output, waste, downtime, labor efficiency, and other performance measures. The role also develops supervisors and operators, promotes standardized processes and continuous improvement, and leads the department during incidents or emergencies.

Requirements

3–5 years of experience in bakery or food production, with demonstrated success managing multiple shifts.
Strong knowledge of bakery manufacturing processes and equipment.
Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively across shifts and departments.
Proficiency in ERP/CMMS systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to walk and stand frequently, occasionally climb ladders or stairs, and regularly move around the facility.
Frequent use of hands and fingers to handle, operate, or feel tools and equipment.
Ability to occasionally lift, move, and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
Wear appropriate PPE and adhere to safety protocols and guidelines.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Business, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent supervisory experience will be considered.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

Responsibilities

Enforce a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with OSHA, GMP, and company policies.
Conduct daily safety inspections and ensure corrective actions are taken promptly.
Partner with QA to ensure food safety, allergen control, and sanitation requirements are met.
Support USDA, FDA, SQF, and customer audits by maintaining readiness across shifts.
Manage production activities across shifts and meet schedules without compromising safety or quality.
Maintain a strong production-floor presence to observe processes, troubleshoot issues, and provide hands-on support.
Coordinate with Planning on product runs, line setups, changeovers, and special projects.
Monitor waste, downtime, and output, and adjust labor and processes to improve efficiency.
Facilitate shift handovers and communicate production issues, corrective actions, and performance results.
Implement standardized processes and reporting across shifts; track recurring issues and ensure corrective-action follow-through.
Monitor and analyze toppings-operation KPIs, including yield, waste, downtime, and labor efficiency, and implement strategies to close performance gaps.
Hold shift supervisors and leads accountable for KPI targets.
Collaborate with Continuous Improvement and Maintenance to implement sustainable solutions.
Supervise and coach shift supervisors, team leads, and operators; conduct performance evaluations and provide corrective action when needed.
Lead employee training on SOPs and quality requirements, and promote cross-training and workforce flexibility.
Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives such as 5S, Kaizen, and Standard Work.
Conduct root cause analysis of recurring production issues and ensure corrective actions are applied across shifts.
Encourage employee involvement in continuous improvement and idea generation.
Serve as the primary toppings department leader during incidents or emergencies, coordinating safety measures, communicating with senior leadership, and overseeing recovery actions.