Food Manufacturing Operations Manager (HACCP/FSSC 22000)

A day in the life

You start your day on the production floor—checking processing lines, observing packing flow, and scanning quality checkpoints. A quick glance at the ERP dashboard shows today’s orders and the production schedule you built to meet customer demand. You lead a pre-shift huddle, align the team, and fine-tune staffing to eliminate bottlenecks. Mid-morning, you verify compliance to USDA and FDA requirements, ensuring GMPs, HACCP, and FSSC 22000 protocols are being followed. Inventory and equipment status are reviewed so preventive maintenance and materials don’t slow throughput. At day’s end, you compile daily metrics and prepare for weekly and monthly reporting on production rates and performance.

What you will manage

• Operational oversight: Direct day-to-day manufacturing, covering processing, packing, and quality control activities.
• Production planning: Create, execute, and track production schedules that meet customer needs while maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste.
• Quality & safety compliance: Ensure products consistently meet company and regulatory standards, including USDA, FDA, GMPs, HACCP, and FSSC 22000.
• Team leadership: Supervise, train, and motivate production staff to achieve performance goals.
• Resource management: Maintain appropriate inventory levels and coordinate equipment maintenance to prevent delays.
• Reporting: Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly reports on output, performance, and trends.

Your background

• Several years of experience in food manufacturing or a comparable production environment.
• Demonstrated leadership capability with a track record of resolving operational issues and guiding teams.
• Deep understanding of food safety regulations and quality control systems.
• Proficiency with computer systems and ERP software, including performance reporting.

Skills that set you up for success

• Excellent communication and confident decision-making.
• Analytical ability to evaluate production rates and identify bottlenecks.
• Strong organizational skills for managing resources and schedules efficiently.