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JOB OVERVIEW:
Reporting directly to the Site Director, the Production Manager takes responsibility for planning, coordinating, and directing all production activities and the execution of the sanitation process at the plant. As an integral member of the Plant Leadership Team, the Production Manager will manage the production team at the plant and work closely with the supporting departments such as Maintenance, Safety, Quality, Accounting, and Engineering to identify proactive ways to continuously improve plant production, including safety, quality, efficiency, and engagement/morale. This position requires problem-solving skills, supervisory skills, an exceptional grasp of the production process, and the ability to develop, engage and inspire teams.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Actively participate on a high performing Plant Leadership Team to proactively lead the plant.
Serve as back up for Site Director.
Develop and lead a high performing Production Leadership Team across all shifts to actively engage production employees.
Oversee all production at the facility and serve as main point of contact for all production related issues.
Coordinate production activities with scheduling, purchasing, maintenance, engineering, quality, and safety to obtain optimum production and utilization of human resources, machines, and equipment.
Partner with the scheduling team to support and guide the production scheduling process and the sales and operations planning (S&OP) process.
Foster a continuous improvement culture by championing Lean principles and leveraging data to ensure problems are being effectively identified, prioritized, resolved, or escalated.
Work with the Plant Safety Coordinator to continually improve safety awareness, behavior and conditions.
Work with the Plant Quality Manager to continually improve product quality and food safety.
Balance resources against new growth projects and efficiency of current items. Support the Engineering, Process Improvement, and Product Development departments on new project implementations by providing and balancing plant resources with the needs of current production demands.
Ensure proper training and development of production employees and production leadership teams.
Work closely with Product Line Teams to identify opportunities for improvement in planning, scheduling, and efficiency.
Coordinate with maintenance staff and contractors on the maintenance and repair of processing equipment or the building.
Lead or participate in corrective action and preventative action processes including problem identification, root cause analysis, and solutions development and implementation.
Partner with plant controller and the Inventory Control Specialist to monitor, develop, analyze, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).
Partner with Human Resources, Safety, Quality, and other resources to ensure compliance with all company and regulatory safety, environmental, food safety, and employee conduct policies, procedures, and standards.
Perform any other duty as assigned.
Managerial Duties & Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Production Supervisor, Material Supervisor, and Inventory Control Specialist, ensuring alignment with plant goals, operational standards, and company values.
Responsible for the overall safety, coordination, development, and performance management of production staff across all shifts.
Carry out managerial responsibilities in accordance with company policies and applicable laws, including timekeeping, interviewing, hiring, training, approving time off, and completing personnel transactions.
Oversee planning, assignment, and execution of work; conduct performance evaluations; manage recognition and disciplinary actions; and address employee concerns and resolve issues.
Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement through coaching, feedback, and team development.
JOB EXPERIENCE:
Minimum of 10 years of related experience in a manufacturing environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 5 years of management or supervisory experience, preferably in a production or operations setting.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
Strong management and leadership skills, with the ability to develop, engage, and inspire teams across multiple shifts.
Well-developed listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Proven problem-solving abilities and sound judgment in decision-making.
Familiarity with Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Technical curiosity and willingness to work alongside teams during new product launches, equipment installations, or operator training.
Ability to analyze and interpret production data and KPIs to drive performance improvements.
Understanding of cross-functional collaboration with departments such as Maintenance, Quality, Safety, and Engineering.
Commitment to safety, food quality, and regulatory compliance.
EDUCATION:
High school diploma or General Education degree (GED) required.
Bachelor’s degree in business administration or engineering preferred.
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 these functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:
Stand, sit, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel
Reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
Walk up and down stairs and ramps; climb ladders
Push or pull sizeable equipment from a standing position
The employee must occasionally:
Lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds
Additional requirements include:
Ability to sit and use a computer for extended periods, with frequent interruptions
Manual dexterity for operating a keyboard and handling paper documents
Sufficient near vision acuity to read screens, handwritten forms, and printed materials
Specific vision abilities including close range, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and focus adjustment
Adequate hearing and verbal communication skills for in-person and phone interactions
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required, including:
Respirators, hearing protection, eye protection, and head protection
WORKING CONDITIONS:
This position operates primarily in an office environment with periodic exposure to production areas. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to:
Wet and/or humid conditions
Moving mechanical parts
Outdoor weather conditions
High, precarious places
Extreme cold or heat
Dust, loud noises, and other distracting environmental factors
The work environment may range from frozen to ambient temperatures depending on the area visited. Noise levels are typically moderate in the office but may be louder in production zones.
Additional conditions include:
Use of a computer and standard office equipment for extended periods
Required use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses and closed-toe shoes, when entering production areas
Occasional walking, climbing, or standing in production spaces during audits, meetings, or troubleshooting activities
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and technical skills required of personnel so classified.
Expected Pay Range: $106,400 - $120,000.
Bonus: This role may further qualify for supplemental compensation in the form of bonus and incentive programs, contingent upon achieving pre-established individual and company performance metrics.
Benefits Eligible: Yes
Benefits Available: benefits-summary-2025.pdf
In the Van Drunen Family of Companies, commitment to excellence is in everything we do! As a global ingredient and nutritional supplement supplier to the world’s best companies, we thrive on nourishing others with our products and our care for people. If you are looking to make an impact and grow with a family-friendly, values-driven company, you'll fit right in with the Van Drunen Family of Companies!
Our employees are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creativity, innovation, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our Company’s achievement as well.
The Van Drunen Family of Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at recruiting@vandrunen.com.
Van Drunen Family of Companies does not accept unsolicited resumes. Any resumes, CV’s, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a submitted request and written search agreement for a position-specific requisition will be deemed the sole property of Van Drunen Family of Companies and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by our Company.
Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran