Processing Manager (Nights)

The construction of fairlife's manufacturing facility in Webster, NY is underway. This state-of-the-art, 750k sq ft, greenfield plant is expected to be operational in 2026 and will lay the foundation for fairlife's next phase of growth as the leading dairy nutrition provider. While coupling the industry’s latest technologies and fairlife's operational excellence to build this world-class facility, fairlife plans to hire over 300 new employees and bring in approximately 5 million lbs. of milk a day, with room to grow over the coming years.

shift & on-call requirements: 

job purpose:

The Night Shift Processing Manager works in partnership with the Day Shift Processing Manager, both reporting to the Senior Processing Manager in Webster, NY. This role directly leads the night shift supervisors, working with their respective team of operators for all work centers throughout processing. Processing Managers also oversees the Operation Technicians (subject matter experts) for UHT, Filtration, and Batching.

This leadership position will be critical in driving results through design and implementation of process standards, work routines, and rigor while empowering creative thinking and promoting a decentralized command environment. Actively driving schedule attainment and utilizing a strong continuous improvement focus will be essential to eliminating issues at the root cause versus fixing them. This is a key role in ensuring the flow of products across the site is running efficiently within a modern and collaborative work culture for our employees.

responsibilities:

• Play a key role in the startup and commissioning of the new plant, including equipment installation, testing, and validation through collaboration with engineering and project management teams to ensure smooth transitions from construction to production.
• Oversee and manage daily operations of the processing department to ensure optimal production performance with direct oversight of processing shift supervisors
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) tailored to the startup plant’s unique requirements in partnership with the training team
• Monitor and ensure adherence to production schedules while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Foster a culture of safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Analyze production processes to identify areas for efficiency improvements and cost savings.
• Implement innovative technologies and methodologies to enhance production capabilities.
• Collaborate with R&D and quality teams to develop and refine product formulations.
• Ensure compliance with all quality control standards, including food safety regulations and fairlife’s quality policies.
• Conduct routine audits and coordinate with the quality team to address non-conformities.
• Maintain detailed documentation of processing activities for traceability and reporting purposes.
• Enforce workplace safety protocols to ensure a zero-incident work environment.
• Oversee inventory levels of raw materials and processing supplies to prevent disruptions.
• Manage departmental budgets, monitor expenses, and report on financial performance.
• Track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure efficiency, yield, and quality.
• Prepare and present reports to senior leadership on production performance, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Monitor waste management and energy consumption to align with fairlife’s sustainability goals.

skills/qualifications required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, or Dairy Science preferred, with proven knowledge of process flow and fluid mass balance
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Fluid Milk or Value-Added processing required
• At least one (1) year as food industry shift Supervisor with positive results demonstrated for repeatable and reproducible production schedule attainment.
• Working knowledge of PMO
• Proven experience working directly with FDA/USDA and/or other Federal/State regulatory
• Proven experience working in a 24/7 operation with customers both upstream (Producers) and downstream (Packaging and Supply Chain)
• Ability to implement fundamental Lean Principles including 5S
• Ability to meet production schedules with shifting priorities
• Understanding of basic CIP operations, functionality and chemistry
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to communicate with all levels of the business
• Excellent organizational and follow-through skills
• Ability to work all shifts including off shifts
• Ability to handle ambiguity and work in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment

food safety requirements:

• Notify manager of any repairs or adjustments that are required that may affect product quality or food safety.
• Perform all duties necessary to meet Company, Customer and/or Government requirements/standards as prioritized by the Company.
• Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the product, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Identify and record any problems relating to Food Safety and the Quality of the ingredients, processes, quality system, or safety system.
• Control further processing or delivery of nonconforming products in terms of Food Safety and Quality issues until the deficiency or unsatisfactory condition has been corrected.
• In the event of absence, another employee with the same skill level will assume the duties and responsibilities as required.

working conditions and physical requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• physical activity:
  • Frequent standing and walking around the production floor 
  • Occasional lifting and carrying of materials (up to 30 pounds) 
  • May need to climb ladders or access elevated areas occasionally 
  • Hand dexterity for operating machinery or computer systems 
• environmental factors:
  • Exposure to noise from machinery 
  • Potential exposure to heat, fumes, and/or chemicals
  • Need to wear safety gear like safety glasses, hearing protection, and slip-resistant boots 
• office work:
  • Significant time spent reviewing data, analyzing reports, and coordinating with other departments 
  • Computer usage for data entry, communication, and project management 
  • Attending meetings with team members and management 

how fairlife nourishes you: 

At fairlife, we believe in better — and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and wellbeing resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work. 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one! 

• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance) 

• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance 

• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000) 

• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support 

• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match 

• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses) 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support 

• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability 

• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants) 

• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month) 

• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential 

• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups 

fairlife’s nour!sh program is designed to meet you where you are — supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day. 

position location: Webster, NY

reports to: Sr Processing Manager

travel requirements: <10%

exempt/nonexempt: exempt