Production Manager

Johanna Foods is a state-of-the-art food manufacturer located in Flemington, New Jersey. Privately operated since 1995, Johanna Foods is now one of the country's largest producers and distributors of fruit juices, drinks and yogurt. Our products include the popular La Yogurt and Sabor Latino yogurt, Tree Ripe juices, Earth Wise juice beverages, Ssips and Sabor Latino drinks and nectars, and Ssips aseptic drink boxes, all using cutting-edge technologies and only the freshest, highest quality ingredients. Johanna Foods is also a leading private label and co-pack juice and yogurt producer, manufacturing products for numerous leading retailers and brands.

What we offer:

Competitive compensation and benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401k, life insurance, short term disability insurance, long term disability insurance, vacation, and tuition reimbursement.

Job Summary:
The Production Manager is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the whole production process ensuring the efficient production of sufficient product quantities to keep pace with market demand. The Production Manager implements processes that both minimize production costs and waste and maximizes production outputs.

• Establish efficient production processes for all of the Yogurt Operation product lines.
• Play a hands on role in managing motivating and directing the plant’s production and supervisory workforce.
• Implement and manage systems that minimize inventory holding quantities yet is suitably timed to ensure uninterrupted production of all the companies’ Yogurt product lines in keeping with market demand for each product as forecast by the Sales and Marketing Departments.
• Constantly seek new ways to improve the plant’s production efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Oversee inventory control system in warehouse operation to ensure proper storage and rotation of finished goods prior to shipping.
• Work hand in hand with the plant maintenance team to oversee the maintenance and servicing of the production lines to minimize down times and maximize the efficiency and work life of all production equipment and machinery.
• Work with the Quality Assurance team to ensure consistent communication and enforcement of Company Quality policies, GMP compliance, and all Food Safety regulatory standards.
• Have timely communications with QA in order to have quick response to help address problems or changes that could compromise food quality and safety.
• Set up working systems which minimize loss of packaging materials during the production process.
• Explore and implement methods of continuous improvement.
• Handle all production issues related to new product launches.
• Train and motivate supervisory and production staff.
• Provide regular production information and performance reports.
• Establish and monitor effective systems for ordering sufficient resources to meet production needs.
• Approve employee time records on a weekly basis.
• Apprise Payroll & Human Resources of employee work, vacation, attendance and discipline records for timely record keeping.
• Handle all disciplinary matters with respect to the production work force in accordance with Company policy and the CBA local labor law.
• Working with the Safety staff, ensure consistent enforcement of safety policies, communicate safety awareness to all employees and propose ideas to improve safety within the plant.
• Report all injury and safety incidents immediately and with as much detail as is available
• Carry out all relevant tasks as directed by senior management.
• Act as an ambassador for the Company’s products at all times.
• Establish an effective Master Cleaning Sanitation Program and verify its effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality system standards and the unit’s food safety and security programs in support of essential manufacturing strategies and practices.
• Serves as Alternate to Director of Yogurt Operations on the JFI SQF Team.
• Serves as Alternate to Warehouse Manager Yogurt Operations on the JFI SQF Team.

• Must be able to work varied shifts including weekends.
• Bachelors’ Degree or equivalent is required.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in the food industry and three (3) years in an operations leadership position.