Production Manager

Dairy Farmers of America - Minneapolis, MN

Full-time - Manager

Minneapolis, MN

10,001+ employees

Food Manufacturing

About the position

We are currently seeking a Production Manager for our milk plant in Minneapolis, MN. In this role, you will manage production activities to drive an efficient and profitable operation. As the Production Manager, you will oversee the daily management of various departments and team members to ensure that all company, regulatory, safety, and quality requirements and initiatives are understood and followed. This position reports to the Director, Plant Manager. Kemps is a farmer-owned brand of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a dairy marketing cooperative owned by more than 12,500 family farmers. Since 1914, Kemps has provided families with fresh, delicious dairy products, including fresh milk, frozen yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and frozen novelty treats. By joining Kemps, you can help us continue to make a difference that matters. We care deeply about the well-being of our neighbors and friends, and we celebrate the diversity of our company and our world. It takes an incredible team to deliver the goodness of dairy and enrich our communities - come join us!

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operational activities of supervisors and production staff to ensure customer orders are received, scheduled, and produced at the lowest possible cost to meet the customer's requirements while maintaining established safety and quality standards.
• Provide management of employees directly or through supervisors to ensure effective selection, retention, development, disciplinary action, and performance management.
• If a collective bargaining agreement exists, may participate in negotiations, grievances, or other contract-related activities and discussions.
• Analyze plant operations and key metrics to ensure that the facility maintains high quality and safety standards; proactively look for ways to increase operational efficiency and contain costs.
• Understand and fulfill the requirements of SQF 2000 Level 3 code of regulation for food safety and quality.
• Foster continuous improvement to maintain the SQF 2000 Level 3 certification.
• Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures are developed and maintained for all aspects of the business.
• Cooperate in a cross-functional manner as a change agent with all departments within the Company.
• Engage in the typical responsibilities of a manager requiring planning, evaluating, organizing, integrating, and delegating.
• Maintain preparation for and participate in plant inspections by authorized agencies utilizing appropriate staff.
• Maintain safe working conditions for employees and compliance with all company, state, and federal regulations regarding health and safety issues.
• Follow all DFA good manufacturing practices (GMP) and work in a manner consistent with all company regulatory, food safety, quality, and sanitation requirements.
• Lead by example with the DFA Dairy Brands Code of Ethics, including following Company policies, standards, and specifications.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a production management role, preferably in the food or dairy industry.
• Strong understanding of production processes and quality control principles.
• Experience with SQF certification and food safety regulations.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Ability to analyze data and make informed decisions to improve operational efficiency.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with various departments and team members.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with collective bargaining agreements and negotiations.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage
• 401k retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays and vacation time
• Employee discounts on products
• Opportunities for professional development and training