Plant Production Manager

The Production Manager will lead and optimize butter manufacturing and powder packaging operations for our facility. This critical role requires deep expertise in an expanding, high-volume butter operation with the possibility of future retail product lines. This role will directly manage a team of 20-30 employees across butter production and packaging departments, driving quality, efficiency, and strategic growth. 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: 

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following: 

• Provides management of employees directly or through supervisors to ensure effective selection, retention, development, disciplinary action and performance management.  

• Directly supervising department supervisors and in an appropriate manner regarding all aspects of production activities, including, prioritizing duties, delegating work assignments.  

• Analyzes manufacturing data and identifies trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement; identifies and utilizes methods to assure manufacturing processes are more efficient and effective (reducing waste, reducing labor cost, etc).  

• Directs adjustments of the manufacturing processes to maintain conformance with standards, specifications, and customer requirements.  

• Ensures effective employee relations by supporting and maintaining a safe and positive work environment. Analyzes and assists in resolving work and/or employee issues through problem resolution.  

• Acting as a manufacturing technical resource to address and resolve inquiries and problems regarding production, quality and work problems as appropriate.  

• Collaborate with UDA’s senior leadership on plant production, growth strategy, staffing, and facility needs   

• Lead the development and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures for the departments they oversee.  

• Regularly collaborate with UDA’s quality team to enhance facility, production, and both  food safety and quality compliance standards, including the participation of audits  

• Participating on cross-functional teams to build a culture of operational excellence and innovation in the areas of processing, methods, productivity, Good Manufacturing Practices, safety and quality.  

• Resolve production and safety problems as needed and provide immediate follow up on production variances and accident investigations  

• Being actively involved in safety efforts including, attending safety meetings, incident investigations, assisting in root cause analysis, auditing, as assigned.  

• Monitor the cleanliness and maintenance, oversee the completion of needed repairs  

• Ensuring compliance with local and federal regulatory requirements including FDA, USDA, and the AZ Dept of Agriculture, resolving and/or reporting compliance issues immediately. 

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Travel Requirements:

• Minimal

Qualifications: 
 

Skills & Abilities:  

• Experience in a lead, supervisor, or management position, preferably in a food processing or manufacturing environment   

• Must be able to work various shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays as required.   

• Strong project management skills with the ability to oversee and drive projects through completion in a timely, safe, and efficient manner  

• People Management Skills, able to successfully interact with plant personnel at all levels, possessing strong motivational skills  

• Successful change agent with an aggressive solution-oriented track record, and effective change control.  

• Ability to lead multiple business initiatives in a manufacturing environment  

• Strong understanding of computer programing systems including, but not limited to, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, inventory management systems, and internet browsers  

• Detail oriented with the ability to effectively manage and track supply inventory, and efficiencies  

• Strong communication skills with the ability to discuss and generate business reports, business correspondence, and procedure documents   

• General understanding of mechanical equipment, parts, and tools  

• Ability to operate moving tools, equipment, and finished product up to 55lbs on a frequent basis  

Experience: Required: 

• Extensive experience in butter making, including:  

• Commodity and retail butter production 

• Continuous churn, high-volume butter manufacturing 

• Production of both salted and unsalted butter varieties 

• Mechanical aspects of butter making and packaging processes 

• Deep understanding of butter manufacturing techniques  

• Ability to manage complex packaging operations  

• Mechanical aptitude for butter production equipment  

• Experience with:  

• Liner insertion in packaging 

• Sealing processes 

• Quality control in butter production 

• Managing multiple packaging lines 

Experience: Preferred:  

• Powder packaging experience  

• Experience managing large production teams  

• Proven track record in food manufacturing efficiency 

Education/Certifications:  

• 3 or more years of management experience required  

• Associates degree, with 5 or more years of management experience required  

• Or equivalent experience to include a minimum of seven (7) years of management experience required.  

Work Environment & Demands 

Physical and environmental demands for this position are indicated below:  

Physical Demands: 

• Sitting for limited periods of time 
• Standing and walking for extended periods of time 
• Occasional bending, crouching, stooping, twisting, reaching and grasping 
• Manual dexterity and repetitive movement of fingers and hands for keyboarding 
• Ability to climb stairs 
• Some lifting, up to 25 pounds 
• Requires ability to walk, sit, and stand for extended periods of time  
• Requires ability to hear and speak, occasionally in high time weighted average environments with elevated decibel readings (using appropriate hearing protection)  
• Requires ability to walk, stand, stoop, bend, reach, lift, push, pull and carry items up to 55lbs  
• Requires ability to push and pull items up to 150lbs   
• Requires ability to work safely with hazardous chemicals  
• Ability to safely operate a forklift occasionally  

Environment: 

• Office environment
• Production floor

Salary : $85,000 - $120,000