Production Shift Manager- Weekday Night

Utz Brands • Kings Mountain, NC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Utz Quality Foods is seeking an experienced Production Shift Manager for its Kings Mountain, North Carolina facility. The role oversees production activities on the assigned shift to ensure safe, efficient operations and achievement of quality, food safety, and production goals. The manager leads Production Supervisors, monitors labor and equipment performance, resolves operational issues, and works with cross-functional teams. The role also develops talent, promotes accountability, and supports continuous improvement through Integrated Work Systems (IWS).

The schedule rotates every two weeks: Week 1 is Monday through Thursday, and Week 2 is Monday through Wednesday. Hours are 6:00 PM–6:30 AM. The position may require additional shifts and extended hours based on business demand.

Utz describes a supportive, caring, and inclusive environment with opportunities for career growth and advancement. Its full-time benefits include medical, dental, and vision plans, an employer 401(k) match, a profit-sharing plan, an employee stock purchase plan, and additional benefits, resources, and programs.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Prior leadership experience in a production or food manufacturing environment, including leading supervisors or multiple production lines.
• Hands-on knowledge of packaging and processing operations, fryer machines, 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.
• 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’s 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; hold the supervisory team accountable for shift safety, quality, productivity, and people-related results.
• Direct daily processing and packaging operations and serve as the escalation point for production, quality, safety, and personnel issues.
• Execute the production schedule and adjust for downtime, equipment issues, staffing gaps, and supply shortages.
• Monitor labor hours and crew size, adjusting staffing and line assignments to operate production lines efficiently.
• Partner with HR and the Production Manager on interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, performance evaluations, attendance, and corrective action.
• Ensure training is delivered and documented, including cross-training coverage.
• Ensure processing and packaging standards are followed to produce quality products.
• Develop and implement methods to achieve plant performance, efficiency, and corporate goals.
• Analyze line-level performance, drive process improvements, and identify and reduce waste.
• Manage material usage and waste, including film waste, on assigned lines.
• Monitor RedZone data for packaging and fryer efficiencies, quality checks, and downtime, and address root causes of losses.
• Ensure work orders and preventative maintenance tasks are entered and tracked in EAM; coordinate with Maintenance and Sanitation to minimize downtime.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of ERP production transactions.
• Coordinate with production planning, quality, maintenance, warehouse, and other departments to meet production attainment and schedule adherence goals.
• Communicate shift performance, issues, and priorities through 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 counts and ensure inventory accuracy for the assigned shift.
• Take responsibility for shift safety performance, engage employees in a safety and health culture, and maintain a safe work environment.
• Follow and enforce GMP and food safety practices and applicable SQF requirements; follow training for reporting and escalating food safety problems.
• Work additional shifts and extended hours as needed based on business demand.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of company and department objectives.

Benefits

• Medical plan
• Dental plan
• Vision plan
• Employer match 401(k)
• Profit-sharing plan
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Additional benefits, resources, and programs to support associates’ health

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED