Shift Production Supervisor at Calico Cottage

Shift Production Supervisor – Food Manufacturing

Company Information:

Since 1964, we have been the world’s largest supplier of fudge making equipment, ingredients, and marketing expertise. If you ever go on vacation (and we hope you do!), you’ve probably seen and maybe purchased our fudge. Since our fudge is always made fresh in each retail store (and sold under the retailer’s own name), we are the best kept secret in retail confectionary. With a strong presence in numerous countries and a vast network of retailers, including well-known establishments in the tourism sector, we are committed to delivering outstanding products and services.

Our company culture fosters growth and embodies the "Hungry, Humble, Smart" philosophy. We seek individuals who are driven, self-motivated, and always eager to learn and do more. Being humble, our team members prioritize the team over self and lack excessive ego or concerns about status. Additionally, they possess strong interpersonal skills, enabling them to work effectively with others. We value a strong work ethic and a positive & vibrant work environment.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a proactive and hands-on Shift Production Supervisor to lead daily manufacturing operations in a fast-paced food production environment. Reporting directly to the Plant Manufacturing Manager, this role is responsible for managing a shift’s production team to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality output that meets production schedules and food safety standards. The ideal candidate combines strong leadership skills with a working knowledge of manufacturing processes, employee engagement, and continuous improvement principles.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management

Supervise, coach, and develop production employees across assigned shift to achieve performance targets in safety, quality, cost, and throughout. 
Conduct daily shift meetings to communicate goals, expectations, and key performance updates.
Promote accountability and teamwork through consistent follow-up and recognition of performance.
Enforce plant policies, safety standards, and good manufacturing practices (GMPs) with fairness and consistency.
Participate in hiring, onboarding, and performance evaluation processes for hourly employees.

Production Operations:

Oversee all aspects of production activities including line setup, changeovers, sanitation coordination, and shift handoffs.
Ensure adherence to production schedules and minimize downtime through proactive planning and communication with Maintenance and Planning teams.
Monitor process parameters, yields, and scrap rates, initiating corrective actions where necessary.
Verify proper documentation of production data, waste, and downtime events.
Maintain high standards of housekeeping and organization in all production areas (5S principles).

Food Safety & Quality:

Ensure all production processes comply with SQF, HACCP, FSMA, and GMP standards.
Conduct in-process quality checks and ensure corrective actions are implemented promptly for any deviations.
Partner with Quality Assurance to maintain product specifications and traceability.
Reinforce sanitation and allergen control procedures and support pre-op inspections.
Lead by example to promote a strong food safety culture on the plant floor.

Safety & Compliance:

Maintain a safe work environment by enforcing OSHA and company safety standards.
Conduct routine safety audits and toolbox talks with shift employees.
Report and investigate safety incidents, ensuring corrective actions are documented and completed.
Support continuous safety training and employee engagement in proactive risk reduction.

Continuous Improvement:

Identify and implement process improvements to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and increase product consistency. 
Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action plans for downtime, yield loss, or customer complaints.
Utilize Lean Manufacturing and problem-solving tools (5 Whys, Fishbone, PDCA) to drive shift performance. 
Support implementation of KPIs and visual management systems to track shift-level results.

Communication & Reporting:

Maintain effective communication with other shift supervisors, Planning, Maintenance, and Quality teams to ensure smooth operational handoffs.
Provide timely updates to the Plant Manufacturing Manager regarding performance, staffing, and operational issues.
Ensure completion of daily shift reports, downtime logs, and production summaries.
Represent the shift in cross-functional meetings and support company-wide initiatives.

Qualifications:

Education/Experience

Associate or bachelor’s degree in operations management, Food Science, Engineering, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered. 
Minimum 3–5 years of experience in food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead role. 
Strong working knowledge of food manufacturing processes, equipment, and quality standards.

Technical Skills

Familiarity with HACCP, SQF, GMP, FSMA, and OSHA requirements.
Proficiency with ERP or production tracking systems and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
Understanding of production KPIs such as yield, efficiency, and OEE. • Experience with Lean Manufacturing, TPM, or Six Sigma principles preferred.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to motivate and hold teams accountable.
Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities in a fast-paced environment.
Detail-oriented, organized, and committed to continuous improvement.
Ability to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, as production schedules require.

As an integral member of our team, you will enjoy a comprehensive benefits program that includes:

• Competitive Salary.
• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Company Paid Long Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off Plan and Paid Holidays
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and/or Dependent Care Expenses
• Length of Service Awards
• Employee Assistance Program (employee benefit program that assist employees with personal problems and/or work-related problems that may impact their job performance, health, mental, & emotional well-being).
• 401(k) Plan
• Life/AD&D Insurance

Performance Metrics (KPI Framework)

KPI Category

Example Metrics

Safety & Compliance

Zero recordable injuries; completion of safety talks; audit compliance

Food Safety & Quality

Zero non-conformances; first-pass quality yie corrective action closure rate

Productivity

Line efficiency; schedule adherence; OEE improvement

Cost & Waste Control

Material yield; rework and scrap reduction; labor efficiency

People & Engagement

Training completion; attendance; employee turnover and engagement scores

Want to make your world a little sweeter? Come join the Calico Cottage team!

Job Type: Full-time/Salary

Work Location: In Office in Belleville, Il.

Salary: $60,000 - $62,000 Annually

Calico Cottage provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.