Production Manager (12810) bei Are you the crunch to our cookies or the fruit’n nuts to our healthy snacks? | Lotus Careers

The Production Manager for Biscoff packaging is responsible for leading 24/7 operations across high-volume lines, ensuring a safe workplace, consistent product quality, and the achievement of business objectives. This role provides direct leadership to four supervisors and their teams, driving performance, efficiency, and engagement. The Production Manager ensures compliance with FSMA, FDA, and company quality standards, oversees equipment functionality and material flow, and champions a culture of continuous improvement.

As a key member of the plant leadership team, this role contributes to overall site performance and operational excellence, while supporting strategic initiatives through KPI management, cross-functional collaboration, and occasional domestic and international travel. 

Organization and Supervision of the Production Environment:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the lines, ensuring a safe, efficient, and high-performing environment.

• Achieve and exceed production KPIs, including quality, safety, volume, efficiency, and hygiene targets.

• Implement and enforce standard work instructions to guarantee consistency and compliance across shifts.

• Proactively identify, propose, and implement improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, reduce waste, and improve employee safety and engagement.

• Foster a “Safety First, Quality Always” culture, ensuring that end products consistently meet or exceed company standards and consumer expectations.

• Maintain the cleanliness, condition, and organization of the production environment to meet all internal and external requirements.

Leadership, Training, and Workforce Development:

• Provide direct leadership to supervisors and their teams, cultivating a motivating and supportive culture that drives engagement and performance.

• Ensure proper staffing levels, develop workforce capability, and actively participate in the selection and onboarding of new team members (supervisors, line leads, production workers).

• Develop training materials, tools, and documentation to support skills development and operational excellence.

• Partner with HR to design and deliver training and learning events, while providing feedback on program effectiveness.

• Actively influence the retention of employees by creating a culture of growth, recognition, and accountability.

• Oversee and provide guidance for performance-management activities, including semi-annual reviews, annual reviews, coaching, disciplinary actions, and terminations.

• Develop and execute an annual action plan for the production department and provide ongoing guidance to ensure successful delivery.

Quality and Compliance:

• Act as a backup for the Quality Manager, ensuring packaging operations comply with FSMA, FDA, and IFS standards.

• Lead and support traceability exercises to validate quality and compliance readiness.

• Partner with Quality and Food Safety teams to address deviations, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Operations Management, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• GFSI-certification required.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in food manufacturing, packaging, or a related process industry.
• Proven track record of managing large teams in a 24/7 high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of FSMA, FDA, and IFS standards.
• Demonstrated success in leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Spanish speaking is a plus.

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

• Ownership & Accountability – Takes full responsibility for production outcomes, ensuring alignment with plant and company goals.
• People Leadership – Skilled at developing, coaching, and motivating supervisors and large hourly teams.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset – Actively challenges the status quo and drives efficiency, quality, and safety improvements.
• Collaboration – Builds strong relationships with peers across Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and HR to deliver results.
• Strategic Agility – Balances day-to-day operational oversight with long-term planning and workforce development.
• Communication & Influence – Clearly communicates expectations and feedback, influencing employees at all levels to uphold standards.
• Resilience – Able to manage competing priorities in a 24/7 operation, remaining calm and effective under pressure.