Production Manager

AMERICAN POP CORN COMPANY CORP•Sioux City, IA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

We are growing and seeking a dynamic leader to join our team as Production Manager! This role will lead a team of talented supervisors dedicated to making the best popcorn on the market while driving operational excellence and continuous improvement. The Production Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and operational excellence of the American Pop Corn Company’s manufacturing facilities. This role provides strategic and hands-on leadership across Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, & Mixing, while working closely with Quality to ensure safe operations, high product quality, regulatory compliance, and efficient execution of the daily and long-term objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or related field preferred
A minimum of 7 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience is required
Proven experience overseeing multiple operational functions
Food manufacturing or regulated manufacturing experience strongly preferred
Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and industrial safety
Ability to analyze operational and financial data to drive decisions
Strategic thinker with strong execution capability
Ability to set clear expectations while helping guide department heads
Ability to identify areas for growth and improvement
Must work to identify and minimize risks that could impact the company while ensuring compliance
Ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements while upholding high standards and ethical conduct throughout the organization
Excellent communication skills to engage with all levels of employees at all locations while encouraging collaboration across departments
Ability to lead organizational change initiatives

Nice To Haves

Experience with continuous improvement methodologies preferred
ERP/MRP systems and operational reporting tool skills are a plus

Responsibilities

Provide plant leadership and direction for plant operations
Establish clear expectations, priorities, and performance standards across all plant departments
Build, coach, and develop department leaders (Production, Maintenance, Sanitation, Mixing)
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement
Serve as the primary escalation point for plant-level issues and decision-making in conjunction with the SVP of Production
Oversee all production activities to ensure efficient, safe, and cost-effective manufacturing operations
Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining quality and minimizing waste, downtime, and inefficiencies
Support & lead initiatives to improve line performance, staffing models, and workflow efficiency
Collaborate with Facilities leadership to plan capital improvements & equipment upgrades
Review Maintenance KPIs, downtime trends, and help perform root cause analysis
Provide operational leadership and direction to the Mixing Supervisor & Team to ensure accurate, safe, and efficient batch preparation in accordance with formulas, specifications, and production schedules
Partner with Mixing Supervisor and Lead to plan staffing, sequencing, and workflow to support production demand and minimize downtime or changeover loss
Monitor mixing performance metrics (batch accuracy, yield, delays) and drive corrective actions and process improvements where needed
Ensure effective sanitation programs that support food safety, product integrity, and regulatory compliance
Ensure compliance with environmental, waste management, and chemical handling requirements
Champion workplace safety, lead by example
Drive proactive hazard identification and risk reduction
Support department budgeting efforts
Analyze financial and operational data to identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements
Support forecasting, capacity planning, and capital expenditure planning
Ensure plant performance meets or exceeds productivity and cost targets
Support & lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies
Drive standardization of best practices across shifts and departments
Lead change initiatives with clear communication and employee engagement
Ensure supervisors and managers conduct regular coaching, feedback, and performance discussions
Support hiring, onboarding, training, and succession planning for plant roles
Promote engagement, accountability, and a positive work environment
Partner with Human Resources to address employee relations
Serve as the primary plant contact for corporate, leadership, and cross-functional partners
Collaborate with Supply Chain, HR, Finance, Sales, & Operations as needed
Support & lead plant meetings and ensure alignment across departments and shifts
And all other duties as assigned by supervisor