PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
San Diego, CA | Non-Exempt | $70,000–$80,000 Annually
REPORTS TO: Plant Manager
LOCATION: San Diego, CA
SHIFT: Varies by operational need, including overnight/graveyard production shifts; flexibility required.
COMPENSATION: $,000–$80,000
ROLE SUMMARY
A growing food manufacturer is seeking a Production Supervisor to directly lead and manage the daily execution of manufacturing operations on the floor. This is a hands-on, floor-based leadership role with direct responsibility for supervising the production crew, hitting throughput and quality targets, and ensuring lines run safely and efficiently on assigned shifts.
The right candidate is a strong people manager who can train, schedule, and hold a production team accountable on a daily basis, while maintaining close coordination with Quality, Maintenance, and Sanitation on food safety and equipment standards. This role carries direct supervisory authority over production staff, including scheduling, performance management, and disciplinary action.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Team Supervision & Scheduling
• Directly supervise the production crew across assigned shifts, including hiring input, onboarding, training, and day-to-day performance management
• Build and manage daily/weekly production labor schedules to ensure adequate line coverage across all shifts, including overnight crews
• Conduct coaching, performance reviews, and disciplinary action for production staff in partnership with HR
• Lead daily pre-shift huddles to communicate production targets, safety reminders, and line assignments
Daily Production Execution
• Execute and enforce production schedules, line start-up/changeover procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the floor
• Monitor line performance each shift, verifying staffing, equipment, and materials are in place to hit throughput, yield, and quality targets
• Oversee the safe and correct operation of production equipment in accordance with established SOPs
• Manage shift staffing and crew assignments to minimize downtime and maintain production flow
Quality & Food Safety Support
• Serve as the floor-level point of contact ensuring production practices align with food safety, GMP, and hygienic handling requirements
• Maintain continuous audit readiness for SQF, customer, and regulatory reviews within the production department
• Support corrective action and root cause analysis on the floor following quality or production events, escalating findings to QA and Operations
Performance Metrics & Continuous Improvement
• Track and report daily/weekly KPIs to the Plant Manager, including:
o Production output and yield versus target
o Line efficiency and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)
o Scrap, rework, and downtime rates
o Labor efficiency and overtime
o Production downtime attributable to quality, equipment, or staffing issues
o Schedule attainment versus production plan
• Flag trends or recurring issues to the Plant Manager and recommend floor-level adjustments to staffing or line processes
Operational Efficiency
• Manage labor deployment, line changeovers, and material usage within the production department to control costs
• Identify and implement process improvements on the floor that reduce downtime and increase line efficiency
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, including waste reduction and lean manufacturing practices
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner daily with Quality, Maintenance, Sanitation, and HR to align production priorities with plant-wide schedules
• Coordinate with Maintenance on equipment troubleshooting, preventive maintenance scheduling, and downtime resolution
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready production documentation, verification logs, and reporting
QUALIFICATIONS
• 3+ years of production experience in food manufacturing, with at least 1–2 years in a supervisory or lead role; bakery experience preferred
• Hands-on experience executing or supervising Master Cleaning Schedules, SOPs, and pre-operational inspections
• Working knowledge of SQF standards, HACCP principles, SSOP execution, and environmental monitoring programs
• Demonstrated ability to directly manage, train, schedule, and hold hourly staff accountable across multiple shifts, including overnight operations
• Comfortable tracking performance data (inspection results, ATP swabs, labor hours) and reporting it clearly to management
• Experience managing department labor schedules and overtime within budget
• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s degree or relevant certification a plus
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred
NextLevel Executive Search | Food & Beverage Manufacturing Leadership
Crystal Lake, IL | ernie@nlesearch.com