Production Specialist - Ames, IA

Sep 1, 2026

Production Specialist - Ames, IA

Job Purpose: The Production Specialist is responsible for planning, supervising and monitoring the production and packaging departments, while maintaining our superior standards of first run quality pasta. Must be able to lead, coach and mentor production associates to deliver organizational and customer objectives.

Key Accountabilities

Personnel

• Deliver operational performance objectives of the shift contributing to the goal to be the lowest cost manufacturer of quality products in our industry
• Responsible for developing, coaching, engaging the machine operators assigned to the specialist’s authority in the areas of:
• timely pasta production (schedule adherence and attainment),
• operational and personal safety.
• product and process quality.
• cost containment (examples: scrap/rework generation), and production quality holds.
• driving operator accountability.
• Assists operators in solving problems and provides mentoring on the use of effective problem-solving methodologies.
• Responsible for effective intra-shift communication with other specialists and work stakeholders regarding improved techniques, critical production information, status of production runs, etc...
• Instructs and/or trains production associates in performance of tasks and ensures appropriate standards are maintained.
• Recommends or initiates personnel actions such as promotions, transfers, discharges, and disciplinary measures.
• Maintains proper staffing levels while administrating employee benefits of vacation and personal time.
• Administers attendance program with direct reports.
• Performs annual performance evaluations with direct reports.
• Conducts new hire and annual performance reviews for direct reports.
• Effectively works and communicates with others and contributes to the working relationships within Barilla America.
  
  

Equipment/Raw Materials

• Monitor shift documentation for continuous problems or problem patterns that occurred on previous shift and implement effective corrective actions to improve line performance.
• Facilitate the communication of equipment issues to Maintenance and assist with problems on all lines.
• Communicate downtime to Production Manager, Plant Associate Director and Maintenance.
• Monitor’s cleanliness of die room and die usage
• Check waste tickets for accuracy
• Anticipates and prepares for process and package changeovers by coordinating the appropriate raw materials prior to start of new product.
• Enter critical key performance information into the PROMO database and SAP assuring 100% accuracy of the information.
• Promotes the learning and execution of key preventative maintenance, and minor maintenance tasks associated with each piece of equipment by the machine operators.
• Promotes training and execution of equipment troubleshooting by machine operator in effort to reduce mechanical downtime and response calls.
• Monitors Raw Material inventory up to and including ordering and planning with raw material suppliers.
  
  

Standard Operating Procedures

• Coordinates daily work flow in conjunction to the production schedule.
• Coordinate the consistent delivery of quality assurance tests for moisture, length, thickness and shape.
• Ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices and FSSC22000 standards.
• Ensure regulatory compliance in the production and employee relations arena.
• Utilizes Process Map to report all near miss, first aid or other safety events. Provides root cause follow-up to these events working with employee and Plant HSE.
• Perform task analysis to ensure a high level of safety awareness and safe working conditions including LOTO.
• Maintain operational cleanliness of all production equipment.
• Comply with the environmental policies and procedures at Barilla Ames facility including energy efficiency, reduce – re-use – recycle goals, reporting requirements and sustainable initiatives. Complete any environmental tasks as assigned and report environmental concerns immediately.
• Follows ISO22000 policies and procedures, address / communicate quality and food safety issues as they occur.
  
  

Production Environment

• Maintains an environment of continuous improvement in the areas of safety, quality and reliability.
• Actively monitors the work areas for safety and quality hazards, makes recommendations for change, and implements change.
• Enforces all personnel, safety, or quality policies and procedures through modeling, coaching and discipline when necessary.
• Maintains an environment of team problem solving through a commitment to involve both the process customer and supplier in the decision-making process.
• Required to be a FSMA qualified individual, following all requirements from FSMA regulations
• Ensure compliance and understanding for quality procedures that directly tie to food safety—PRPs, OPRPs, CCPs and FSMA requirements
  
  

Additional Information

• AA degree in Management or a related field
• Minimum of 4 years’ experience in a supervisory level role in a production or manufacturing environment or 4 years of progressive leadership roles in manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and a mechanical background are helpful for this position.
  
  

Barilla is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of Barilla to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard characteristics including, but not limited to, age, race, color, culture, ethnicity, nationality, faith, religion, gender, pregnancy, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran or protected veteran status, political opinions, health or disability.

Manufacturing

United States

Ames, IA

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