Senior Production Manager - Manufacturing Operations

Overview:

The Senior Production Manager leads manufacturing operations through data-driven decision-making, leveraging production data, KPIs, and analytics tools to optimize labor, yield, and throughput. This role is responsible not only for execution, but for identifying trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities, ensuring consistent plan delivery in a highly dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Operations & Leadership

• Lead daily manufacturing operations across AM and PM production shifts.
• Manage and direct large production teams in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Allocate and adjust labor daily based on production needs and operational constraints.
• Drive execution, accountability, safety, and quality on the production floor.

Production Planning & Execution

• Ensure strict adherence to the approved daily plan, driving execution without unnecessary changes or re-planning.
• Coordinate closely with Supply Chain and Maintenance to ensure readiness of materials and equipment.
• Actively drive plan adherence by identifying execution gaps, removing constraints, and implementing corrective actions to ensure production targets are met.
• Lead production teams to execute the plan, proactively adjusting labor, sequencing, and resources to ensure delivery despite daily operational changes and corrective actions to deliver the plan with minimal deviation.

Data Analysis & Decision Making

• Analyze production data (labor, yield, downtime, attainment) to identify trends and performance gaps.
• Use tools such as Power BI and Excel to build, interpret, and act on operational reports.
• Translate data into actionable plans to improve efficiency and reduce variability.
• Perform root cause analysis using data, not assumptions.
• Define and monitor KPIs to drive accountability across shifts.

Process Improvement & Productivity

• Drive labor efficiency through process analysis, time studies, and line balancing.
• Apply structured problem-solving methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, root cause analysis) supported by data.
• Use structured problem-solving tools (Pareto, Ishikawa, root cause analysis) to improve productivity.

Resources, Equipment & Materials

• Ensure availability of tools, machinery, and fresh raw materials required for production.
• Partner with Maintenance on equipment reliability and preventive maintenance.
• Maintain the right balance between output, product quality, yield, and freshness.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Maintain strong communication with Supply Chain, Quality, Maintenance, Merchandising, and Facilities.
• Support new product introductions and operational projects from a manufacturing perspective.

Cost, Safety & Performance

• Control labor efficiency, overtime, and operational costs.
• Promote a strong safety and food safety culture.
• Monitor key operational KPIs and drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or related field (Required).
• Strong analytical background with experience interpreting large datasets.
• Experience leading performance improvements using metrics, not only supervision.
• Proven experience managing multi-shift production and large hourly teams.
• Strong background in process improvement, labor optimization, and Lean Manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with production planning in dynamic environments.
• ERP experience required (Dynamics preferred).
• Advanced proficiency in Excel (data modeling, pivot tables, formulas, analysis).

Core Competencies

• Professional proficiency in both English and Spanish.
• Strong floor leadership and execution focus.
• Comfortable making decisions under pressure.
• Analytical, structured, and improvement-driven.
• Clear communicator with high ownership and accountability.
• Data-driven mindset and strong analytical thinking.
• Ability to challenge assumptions using data.
• Systems thinking and process-oriented mindset