Production Manager, Ready to Eat (RTE) - Stock Yards Spokane

$85,100 - $120,000/Yr

Ameristar Meats - Spokane Valley, WA

Full-time - Mid Level

Spokane Valley, WA

Food Manufacturing

About the position

The Production Manager for Ready to Eat (RTE) at Stock Yards Spokane Ameristar Meats, LLC is responsible for overseeing the production operations within the facility. This role requires the development of manufacturing strategies that align with the overall business plans to ensure the delivery of planned business results. The Production Manager will lead a team and create a structure that can adapt to the fluctuating demands of the business while aligning priorities with the broader organizational direction to meet customer needs. The position involves managing production and labor scheduling to meet deadlines and quality specifications, ensuring compliance with internal and regulatory guidelines, and maintaining cross-functional relationships within a matrix organization. In addition to effective production management, the Production Manager will ensure compliance with various internal and external guidelines, including USDA, FDA, OSHA, and Food Safety regulations. A strong emphasis will be placed on creating a safe working environment and culture for team members. The role also involves managing operations to meet or exceed certification levels of external audit standards, such as GFSI. The Production Manager will establish and manage performance metrics, guiding production and warehousing teams through strategic issue resolution while leveraging knowledge of Six Sigma and lean continuous improvement methodologies to drive operational efficiency. The position requires supervision of Production Supervisors and Production Employees, as well as Warehouse Supervisors and Warehouse Employees. The ideal candidate will possess a high school diploma or equivalent, with a college degree preferred, and have at least five years of operations or production management experience, preferably in a food processing environment. Familiarity with Just in Time (JIT) production environments and continuous improvement tools is also beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Develop manufacturing strategies consistent with overall business plans to ensure ability to deliver planned business results.
• Develop a team and structure that can flex to meet the demands of the business.
• Align priorities with the direction of the broader organization to meet customer needs.
• Manage production and labor scheduling to ensure deadlines and quality specifications are met in accordance with internal and regulatory guidelines.
• Establish and maintain cross-functional relationships in a matrix, functionalized organization.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external guidelines, including USDA, FDA, OSHA, and Food Safety regulations.
• Maintain an environment and culture focused on the safety of team members.
• Manage operations to meet or exceed certification levels of external audit standards (GFSI).
• Establish and manage metrics used to define performance.
• Guide production and warehousing teams through in-depth analysis and resolution of strategic issues.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED; college degree preferred.
• Five years of operations/production management experience required, preferably in a food processing environment.
• General business knowledge in manufacturing, operations, or food processing.
• Experience working in a JIT (Just in Time) production environment is a plus.
• Experience using continuous improvement tools, such as Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing.
• Ability to communicate effectively (oral and written) to all levels of the organization.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to facilitate and manage change.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative assessment skills, critical thinking skills, and the ability to constructively challenge ideas and assumptions.
• Strong interpersonal relationship skills.
• Strong computer skills and experience applying these techniques to analyze and measure productivity.

Benefits

• Employee stock purchase plan
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan