What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Production Manager position at Somafina?
somafina
Nutraceutical Manufacturing
Associate Production Manager
Production / Manufacturing • Full-Time • Exempt
Third Shift: 6:00 PM – 6:30 AM • Responsible for Lindon Operations
Reports to Plant Manager • Dotted Line to VP & General Manager, Lindon Facility
Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Any Discipline) Preferred
Why Somafina?
Somafina is a growing co-manufacturer of vitamins and supplements in Utah, and business is thriving as we attract larger, more established customers. It's a fast-paced environment with real momentum — which means real opportunities for growth. If you're ready to take on more and grow with us, we'd love to have you on the team.
Position Description
The Associate Production Manager takes on a higher level of ownership and leadership within our Lindon production operations than a traditional Production Supervisor role. This position is responsible for Lindon operations on third shift (6:00 PM – 6:30 AM), reporting to the Plant Manager with a dotted-line relationship to the VP & General Manager. This position is designed for a sharp, driven early-career professional who can quickly grow into broader operational leadership. We are prioritizing strong judgment, analytical ability, and drive over industry-specific experience — the technical and product knowledge can be taught; problem-solving instincts and motivation cannot.
This role is best suited to someone with an engineering background who is early in their career, but who has demonstrated strong analytical thinking, fast learning, and leadership potential. Direct experience in gummy or nutraceutical manufacturing is a plus, not a requirement. We're looking for someone who is hungry to grow and is aiming to advance into senior production leadership over time.
Essential Responsibilities
- Owns and oversees Lindon production operations on third shift (6:00 PM – 6:30 AM), providing hands-on leadership across daily production operations to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Partners with the Plant Manager, and maintains a dotted-line relationship with the VP & General Manager, to identify and resolve production bottlenecks, quality issues, and process inefficiencies.
- Applies strong analytical and problem-solving skills to diagnose root causes and implement data-driven solutions on the production floor.
- Develops a deep working knowledge of Somafina's manufacturing processes, equipment, and systems, including product-specific production methods.
- Coaches, mentors, and develops production staff, building a foundation of leadership and people-management skills.
- Supports planning, scheduling, and resource allocation to meet production targets and customer commitments.
- Monitors and reports on key production metrics (throughput, quality, downtime, efficiency), identifying trends and improvement opportunities.
- Ensures compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards across production activities.
- Takes on increasing scope and responsibility over time, with a clear growth path toward senior production leadership.
Additional Responsibilities
- Performs all work in a safe and healthy manner in accordance with OSHA standards.
- Supports a culture of continuous improvement across the production floor.
- Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
- Performs other job-related tasks/responsibilities as requested by leadership. Job duties may change as required by the needs of the company.
Education Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (any discipline) strongly preferred; other technical or analytical degrees will be considered; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Competencies / Skill Qualifications
- Early career professional — prior production management experience is not required, but a demonstrated record of strong problem-solving, learning agility, and initiative is essential.
- Exceptional judgment, critical thinking, and analytical ability; comfortable diagnosing complex operational problems.
- Strong leadership potential with a genuine drive to grow into broader operational leadership roles.
- Self-motivated and highly coachable, with a hunger to learn manufacturing operations from the ground up.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to earn credibility with production teams quickly.
- Experience in gummy, nutraceutical, or consumer goods manufacturing is a plus, but not required.
- English proficiency required.
Physical Requirements
- Must be comfortable spending extended time on the production floor, including standing, walking, and moving through manufacturing areas.
- Must have command of the senses — sight, hearing, touch, and smell — to identify equipment and process issues.
- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally in a manufacturing environment.
- Must be available and able to work third shift hours (6:00 PM – 6:30 AM), including required alertness and focus during overnight operations.
6:00 PM - 6:30 AM
4 days on, 3 days of
Then 3 days on, 4 days off