Bakery Production Manager
Villa Rica, GA | First Shift | Full-Time
Lead a team of about 30 people at a growing food manufacturer in Villa Rica, GA. You'll own your area on first shift.
ROLE AT A GLANCE
• Title: Bakery Production Manager
• Department: Operations
• Location: Villa Rica, GA (onsite)
• Shift: First shift, 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM, five days a week
• Reports to: Director of Operations
• Direct reports: Two Supervisors, plus Leads and frontline production teams
• Team size: About 30 people
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Raise is partnering with a well-established food manufacturer to find its next Bakery Production Manager. The Villa Rica site manufactures, packages, and distributes baked food products for foodservice, retail, and quick-service restaurant customers.
As Production Manager, you own a process area and your shift. You work closely with the Plant Manager and your Supervisors. Your Supervisors work hands-on with Lead Operators and Operators to set up, run, maintain, and troubleshoot the lines. The equipment includes ovens, baggers, case packers, case erectors, and Ropak machines.
The plant runs 24 hours a day, so you'll be on the floor with your team, removing obstacles. You lead by example, with safety first and a focus on quality. You follow standard work to get the most from your team, and you always look for ways to improve. You partner daily with Supervisors, Lead Operators, Operators, and Maintenance and Quality Technicians on operations and continuous improvement projects.
The company keeps growing and adapting to serve its customers. It values its customers, its people, and its community.
MUST-HAVES
• Five or more years of experience in the food industry
• Hands-on food manufacturing experience in baked goods or food processing and packaging
• Five or more years of hands-on management experience
• Experience managing 20 or more employees, including developing and coaching supervisors
• A strong working knowledge of manufacturing equipment
• Experience building and carrying out tactical and strategic plans
• Experience spotting talent and building teams
• Local to Villa Rica, GA, or within daily commuting distance
NICE-TO-HAVES
• Bakery experience, especially with industrial ovens
• Six Sigma certification
• Lean or continuous improvement experience, such as 5S and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) tracking
• Experience in a fast-paced, 24-hour manufacturing plant
WHAT YOU'LL DO
• Manage your day, your team, and your responsibilities to a consistent standard
• Walk your floor with purpose and engage your leaders throughout the shift
• Learn the production area and lines you're responsible for
• Develop your Supervisors and Operators into proactive problem solvers who engage their teams
• Drive your lines to meet or beat safe production goals
• Monitor deviations and communicate with the General Manager (GM) and Maintenance in real time
• Make sure your Supervisors and Operators have the tools they need for a successful run
• Manage schedules, crewing, and headcount for a timely start-up and hand-off
• Make sure Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and personal protective equipment (PPE) are followed across your area at all times
• Review shift reports to spot trends and issues
• Review the continuous improvement plan with the GM and carry it out with your team
• Monitor and control material usage and waste
• Inspire your team with clear feedback and goals, and celebrate their wins
• Assess the strengths and gaps of your Supervisors and Operators to find training needs
• Work with HR to onboard, develop, and train new hires
• Raise issues with the GM to keep your area running well
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
• Own it. Ownership leads to accountability and success. You own your area, your equipment, your processes, and most of all your people.
• Know your people. In your first three months, get to know each team member as an individual. Your main job is to set your team up for success, remove obstacles, and meet quality production goals safely.
• Commit to your schedule and stay flexible. Be present at shift hand-offs, because they set your team up for success. Some days you'll cover for a colleague, check in on your team at off-hours, or join a project. Expect 10 to 12 hours a day, five days a week.
• Be present and accessible. Operators, packers, stackers, lift drivers, and sanitors are the foundation of the business. Spend most of your time on the floor observing, guiding, coaching, holding people accountable, and appreciating their work.
• Treat your team with respect. Listen to their needs, and coach and develop them.
• Collaborate. Support and help your colleagues whenever needed. The site wins as one team.
• Adapt as you go. The business keeps growing, automating, and adapting to customer needs. You'll stretch your skills and take on projects outside your background.
• Be curious. Ask why, dig for the answer, and challenge the status quo.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
Your targets are zero quality defects, zero safety violations, and 80% OEE on machines and lines.
Manage Start-up and Shift Hand-off
• Walk the floor with your Supervisors to find and remove obstacles
• Make sure every shift starts up and hands off smoothly
• Make sure Supervisors and Lead Operators huddle with the previous shift to learn about any problems or concerns
• Review the production schedule and hand-off reports, and help Supervisors prepare for the day
• Make sure your team works closely with material handlers so lines have the right materials for setup
• Make sure Operators communicate with line associates and temporary staff (packers and stackers) on materials, settings, and schedule
• Make sure all safety mechanisms work and every team member follows the safety rules
Run Lines Safely and Effectively
• Make sure machines and lines are inspected and ready for a safe start-up
• Work with Supervisors so machines start up and run to standard
• Monitor the production line and output
• Inspect products to confirm they meet specs, such as measurements, code dates, and weights
• Work closely with Supervisors and Maintenance to fix mechanical problems
• Make sure Supervisors coordinate break relief with Operators
Manage and Optimize Machines and Lines
• Keep preventive maintenance up to date
• Keep the work area clean and organized
• Make the safest, most valuable use of your people and equipment
• Share and seek improvement ideas with the GM
• Identify process improvements and suggest them
Keep Yourself and Your Team Safe
• Train your team on safety rules and make sure they follow them
• Maintain 5S in your area
• Make sure all machine safety devices are in place and working
• Make sure safety tools are used and stored properly
• Coach your team to speak up when they see something unsafe
• Make sure Supervisors share safety tips at every shift hand-off
Deliver High-Quality Products
• Own quality and aim for First Time Quality every time
• Make sure machines and lines are set to produce to the quality standard
• Make sure Operators complete and record all quality checks, such as scales, seal testing, and package integrity
• Empower your team to stop a line or machine when quality falls short
• Work with Maintenance to keep machines in good shape
READY FOR YOUR NEXT STEP
If you lead from the floor and want to own a food production area, apply today or reach out to the Raise recruiting team. We'll walk you through the role and the next steps.
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