Production Supervisor - Food Manufacturing

We are partnering with a leading food manufacturer to identify an experienced Production Supervisor to oversee daily manufacturing operations and drive production performance within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

This is a key frontline leadership position within a business where production efficiency, product quality, food safety and operational excellence are critical priorities. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing production teams, coordinating daily activities and ensuring manufacturing targets are consistently achieved while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality and compliance.

Working closely with Production Management, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Sanitation and Warehouse teams, the Production Supervisor will play a pivotal role in optimizing production output, reducing downtime, improving labor efficiency and developing a high-performing workforce.

The business is seeking a hands-on, results-driven leader who can motivate employees, solve operational challenges and foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and teamwork across the production floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Leadership: Supervise daily manufacturing operations, ensuring production schedules, output targets and customer requirements are consistently achieved.

• Team Management: Lead, coach and develop production employees, line leads and team leaders, promoting accountability, engagement and strong performance.

• Production Planning: Coordinate staffing, production schedules, line assignments and resources to meet operational demands.

• Operational Efficiency: Monitor production performance, labor utilization, throughput and line efficiency to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Food Safety & Quality: Ensure all production activities comply with food safety procedures, quality standards, GMPs and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Health & Safety: Maintain a safe working environment by enforcing safety procedures, identifying workplace hazards and ensuring employees follow established protocols.

• Continuous Improvement: Drive initiatives to reduce waste, improve productivity, minimize downtime and enhance overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

• Performance Monitoring: Track production KPIs, including output, yield, labor efficiency, scrap, downtime and schedule attainment.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Maintenance, FSQA, Sanitation, Warehouse and Planning teams to resolve production issues and maintain operational flow.

• Problem Solving: Identify production bottlenecks, investigate recurring issues and implement corrective actions to improve performance.

• Standard Operating Procedures: Ensure employees follow established work instructions, production procedures and quality requirements.

• Labor Management: Manage attendance, scheduling, overtime and workforce allocation to ensure production requirements are met efficiently.

• Training & Development: Ensure employees receive appropriate training and demonstrate competency in production processes, food safety and workplace safety.

• Equipment & Process Performance: Monitor equipment operation and coordinate with Maintenance to resolve breakdowns and reduce production interruptions.

• Waste & Yield Management: Identify opportunities to reduce raw material waste, improve yields and optimize the use of labor and manufacturing resources.

• Shift Handover: Maintain clear communication between shifts and departments, ensuring production priorities, outstanding issues and performance results are effectively communicated.

• Documentation & Reporting: Maintain accurate production records, labor reports, downtime logs and other operational documentation.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be an experienced production leader with a strong background in food manufacturing and a proven ability to manage frontline teams while delivering operational results.

Key requirements include:

• Previous experience in a Production Supervisor or similar frontline leadership role within food manufacturing.

• Experience in protein, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, bakery or other high-volume food manufacturing environments would be advantageous.

• Strong understanding of production processes, manufacturing workflows and production planning.

• Demonstrated experience managing production employees, team leaders and shift-based operations.

• A proven track record of achieving production targets while maintaining food safety, quality and workplace safety standards.

• Knowledge of GMPs, HACCP principles, sanitation requirements and applicable food manufacturing regulations.

• Experience monitoring production KPIs, including output, yield, labor efficiency, waste and downtime.

• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify root causes and implement effective corrective actions.

• Experience driving continuous improvement initiatives, reducing waste and improving operational efficiency.

• The ability to work collaboratively with Maintenance, FSQA, Sanitation and other operational departments.

• Strong communication, organizational and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• A hands-on approach, with a visible presence on the production floor and a focus on employee engagement and accountability.

• A degree or relevant qualification in Food Science, Manufacturing, Operations Management or a related discipline would be advantageous.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Leadership & Visibility: Take ownership of daily production activities and work closely with plant leadership to deliver operational objectives.

Operational Impact: Directly influence production output, labor efficiency, waste reduction and manufacturing performance.

Team Development: Lead, coach and develop production employees while building a culture of accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement.

Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement opportunities to improve processes, reduce downtime and maximize productivity.

Career Progression: Develop your leadership capabilities within an established food manufacturing business, with potential opportunities to progress into Production Manager or broader Operations leadership positions.

Business Impact: Play a critical role in ensuring the safe, efficient and consistent production of high-quality food products for customers.