Production Shift Manager- Weekday Night

Utz Brands, Inc.•Kings Mountain, NC

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Utz Quality Foods is seeking an experienced Production Shift Manager to lead the production team at its Kings Mountain, North Carolina facility. The role oversees all production activities on the assigned shift, ensuring safe and efficient operations while meeting quality, food safety, and production goals. The Shift Manager leads Production Supervisors, monitors labor and equipment performance, resolves operational challenges, and partners with cross-functional teams to drive results. The role also develops talent, promotes accountability, and supports continuous improvement through Integrated Work Systems (IWS) initiatives. The position follows a rotating two-week schedule: Monday through Thursday in Week 1 and Monday through Wednesday in Week 2, working from 6:00 PM to 6:30 AM. Additional shifts and extended hours may be needed based on business demand. The role requires leadership experience in production or food manufacturing, hands-on knowledge of packaging and processing operations, fryer and packaging machinery, and food production sanitation. A high school diploma or GED is required. The employer prefers an associate or bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Food Science, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Utz describes itself as a snack-food company with a family heritage and a portfolio of brands that includes Utz, Zapp’s, Boulder Canyon, and On the Border. It highlights a supportive, caring, and inclusive environment with opportunities for career growth and advancement. Its full-time benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision plans, an employer 401(k) match, profit sharing, and an employee stock purchase plan.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Prior leadership experience in a production or food manufacturing environment, including experience leading supervisors or multiple production lines.
Hands-on knowledge of packaging and processing operations, fryer machines and packaging machinery, and sanitation procedures in a food production setting.
Experience planning and scheduling production and adjusting to changing priorities.
Experience monitoring and analyzing labor usage and crew efficiency.
Familiarity with ERP systems, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, and inventory tracking.
Experience using maintenance systems such as EAM (Enterprise Asset Management).
Experience working with performance monitoring tools such as RedZone.
Strong leadership, coaching, and interpersonal skills to lead, motivate, and develop supervisors and teams.
Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
Knowledge of food safety practices, GMPs, and SQF requirements.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities, including under pressure.
Ability to assess performance data and implement process improvements.
Effective delegation and follow-up to ensure task completion and accountability.
Competency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Ability to lift moderately heavy materials and perform occasional physical tasks such as skid pulling.
Attention to detail, organizational ability, and commitment to quality standards.
Strong commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant work environment.
OSHA-compliant forklift operator experience required.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Food Science, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the Production Supervisor and hold the supervisory team accountable for safety, quality, productivity, and people-related results on the assigned shift.
Direct daily processing and packaging operations and act as the escalation point for production, quality, safety, and personnel issues.
Execute the production schedule efficiently, maintain quality, and adjust to downtime, equipment issues, staffing gaps, or supply shortages.
Monitor labor hours and crew size, and adjust staffing and line assignments in real time to operate production lines efficiently.
Partner with HR and the Production Manager on interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, performance evaluations, attendance, and corrective action for shift personnel.
Ensure appropriate training is delivered and documented, including cross-training coverage.
Uphold processing and packaging standards to ensure production of quality products.
Develop and implement methods to achieve plant performance and efficiency goals.
Analyze line-level performance, drive process improvements, and identify and reduce waste.
Manage material usage and waste, including film waste, on assigned lines to support cost initiatives.
Monitor RedZone data for packaging and fryer efficiencies, quality checks, and downtime, and ensure root causes of losses are addressed.
Ensure work orders and preventive maintenance tasks are entered and tracked in EAM, and coordinate with Maintenance and Sanitation to minimize downtime.
Ensure ERP production transactions are executed and monitored accurately to maintain data integrity.
Coordinate with production planning, quality, maintenance, warehouse, and other departments to achieve production attainment and schedule adherence goals.
Communicate shift performance, issues, and priorities through shift handoffs and regular updates with the Production Manager and other shift leaders.
Support and sustain plant Integrated Work Systems, including maintaining and communicating line-level KPIs and performance standards.
Assist with month-end inventory counting and ensure inventory accuracy for the assigned shift.
Be responsible for shift safety performance, actively engage employees in the safety and health culture, and maintain a safe work environment.
Follow and enforce GMP and food safety practices and applicable SQF system requirements.
Follow training and instructions for reporting and escalating food safety problems to appropriate personnel.
Work additional shifts or extended hours as needed based on business demand.
Perform other duties as assigned that support company and department objectives.