The Production Manager provides leadership for a 24 hour cheese and cultured products manufacturing operation. This role is responsible for driving safety, quality, service, and cost performance while developing high performing teams and ensuring operational excellence. The Production Manager partners closely with plant leadership and cross functional teams to support business objectives, continuous improvement initiatives, regulatory compliance, and employee engagement. This position leads approximately 80 employees through a team of supervisors and frontline leaders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead daily production operations to safely meet customer, quality, service, and cost objectives.

• Develop, coach, and mentor supervisors and production team members to build a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.

• Drive improvements in productivity, labor efficiency, waste reduction, product quality, and operational performance.

• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, GMP, HACCP, regulatory, and company requirements.

• Partner with Quality, Maintenance, Warehouse, Supply Chain, and Human Resources to support plant objectives and resolve operational challenges.

• Oversee the execution of the production plan to satisfy customer demand and support business goals.

• Lead root cause analysis and problem solving efforts to address operational issues and drive sustainable improvements.

• Develop and manage budgets, support capital improvement projects, and utilize operational performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and business results.

• Support internal, customer, and third party audits and implement corrective actions as needed.

• Promote and model a strong safety culture while ensuring compliance with all environmental, health, and safety requirements.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of supervisors and employees.

• Conduct performance reviews, provide coaching and development, and support succession planning efforts.

• Address employee relations matters in partnership with Human Resources.

• Support workforce planning, staffing, and organizational development initiatives.

• Lead change management efforts and drive adoption of new processes and improvements.

QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED)

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of manufacturing experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Progressive leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.

• Experience leading teams in a fast paced production setting.

• Strong communication, decision making, problem solving, and organizational skills.

• Experience managing multiple priorities and driving performance through others.

QUALIFICATIONS (PREFERRED)

• Food manufacturing experience highly preferred.

• Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety systems.

• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position is primarily first shift but requires flexibility to support off shift operations, weekends, and holidays as business needs require.

Ability to travel is up to 10%.

Salary Range: $107,680 - $161,520. In most cases, candidates offered employment expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.    

If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.