Production Manager

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 Essential 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 Qualifications: To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. A 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 …

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