Process Manager chez Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream

Are you looking to catapult your career by driving high-impact transformation with household brands?  Do you crave an entrepreneurial, fast paced, and engaging growth assignment working with incredible people from across the globe?

At Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, we are excited to start a new chapter of accelerated growth as part of Froneri – a global pure-play ice cream leader. Come help us transform DGIC into the #1 ice cream brand! With nearly 100 years of winning experience in the U.S, a robust portfolio of powerhouse brands that consumers know and love such as Häagen-Dazs, Drumstick, Dreyer’s & Edy’s, and the backing and coaching of European-based ice cream experts, we know we have the winning recipe.

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, the Bay Area’s hub for up-and-coming food trends, our teams across our offices and factories are raising the bar on all things ice cream. We are investing in significant capital expansions to grow our Operations and Supply chain and are transforming how we work at every level to become agile, accelerate growth and elevate our quality. With a renewed focus on frozen treats, our tight-knit team of ambitious innovators are fully immersed in the business and encouraged to flex and make decisions quickly. We are committed to pursuing every great idea and delivering the best ice cream experience for our consumers, when and where they want it.

Unleash your potential at Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream and discover what a sweet career we have in store for you.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Process Manager is responsible for overseeing, optimizing, and standardizing production processes in the factory to ensure safety, quality, and efficiency. This role ensures all mix, freezing, and packaging operations meet company standards, regulatory requirements, and cost targets, while driving continuous improvement initiatives across the plant.

Job Description

1. Production Process Management

• Oversee daily ice cream manufacturing operations, including mix preparation, pasteurization, homogenization, aging, freezing, and filling.
• Ensure all production runs meet product specifications and safety standards (HACCP, GMP, and food safety requirements).
• Monitor process parameters (temperature, pressure, flow, viscosity, etc.) and make real-time adjustments to maintain consistency.
• Monitor and control waste generation and route to process to meet business and environmental targets.
• Lead standardization initiatives and control streamline communication of those to the factory (OPLs, Work instructions, Centerlines, etc.)

2. Continuous Improvement & Optimization

• Lead process improvement projects to enhance yield, reduce waste, and minimize downtime.
• Conduct root-cause analysis on process deviations and implement corrective/preventive actions.
• Collaborate with Maintenance and Quality teams to improve equipment reliability and performance.
• Lead Hypercare projects, aimed at analyzing CRQS, efficiency, process control and hygiene gaps on production lines and developing/rolling out processes to bridge those gaps.
• Work with project team and vendors to develop training plans, rebuild schedules and to ensure new process learnings are rolled out to new machinery.
• Act as the central point of contact to collect benchmarks from across the Group and roll out to the factory

3. Quality & Compliance

• Work closely with Quality Assurance to ensure adherence to product formulations and sanitation standards.
• Ensure compliance with FDA, OSHA, and local health regulations.
• Participate in audits and ensure documentation and process validation are up to date.

4. Team Leadership & Training

• Supervise and develop a team of process engineers and tech trainers.
• Lead an entry-level engineers training program, with measurable targets and short spans of controls.
• Provide technical training and coaching on process control, food safety, and best practices.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Develop, assess, manage and control skills matrices across all departments on the factory, partnering with department managers to ensure training gaps are corrected through external or internal training.

5. Data & Performance Tracking

• Analyze production and process data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Report key metrics such as RTY, ZBL, Labor usage and overheads costs.
• Support new product trials and process validations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in food or dairy manufacturing; ice cream or frozen dessert experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of pasteurization, homogenization, and freezing systems.
• Excellent leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with process automation systems (PLC, SCADA, etc.) and data reporting tools.

Measurable Outcomes

• Daily, weekly, and monthly project targets are fully met
• Successful startups and handovers of new equipment
• Training and development plans in place, producing measurable business benefits
• Create and execute the commissioning plans
• Equipment operating according to line standards
• Equipment creating quality products according to the CRQS that has been implemented
• Successful execution of trials and sellable product startups for new products
• Represent The Froneri Way of working through the behaviors and characteristics in our Operating Model and Core Values 

Levels of Responsibility

• Quality and technical system adherence
• Training and development of factory teams
• Implementing Project works between Engineering and production

BEHAVIORS AND CORE VALUES: Must consistently showcase the desired behaviors that represent our Core Values.

We Take Ownership

• Stay committed to responsibilities from start to finish
• Make sound decisions and get into the right level of detail
• Apply resources to initiatives that add growth, improve efficiencies, or reduce waste

We Do What Is Right

• Choose transparency over convenience, even if it means difficult conversations
• Set clear roles and responsibilities, enabling everyone to exercise appropriate initiative and judgment
• Speak up when you see something that does not align to our values and policies

We Seek to Improve

• Strive to continuously improve and innovate to exceed expectations
• Value feedback from others and encourage open dialogue to understand how we can improve
• Learn from both successes and failures

We Are Better Together

• Ensure decisions are based on what’s best for the whole business
• Practice inclusion by seeking diverse perspectives
• Treat everyone with fairness and respect

WORK ENVIRONMENT

In this position, the employee will regularly work with and around others; in a wet and/or humid environment; in areas of high noise level; and around mechanical, electrical, and pressurized equipment. The work is fast paced. 

• Cold Temperatures: Parts of the facility, such as storage and production areas, may be kept at low temperatures.
• Requires use of cold-protective PPE.
• May involve standing, lifting, and walking in refrigerated zones for extended periods.
• Fast-Paced: Workers often operate under strict timelines to meet production quotas.
• High-speed manufacturing floor with frequent movement, line assignment changes, and tight production timelines.
• Standing for Long Hours: Many roles require prolonged standing and repetitive tasks.
• Repetitive hand and arm movements required.
• Must be able to stand for hours with frequent bending, reaching, and lifting.
• Food Safety Regulations: Employees must follow hygiene and safety guidelines, including wearing protective gear (gloves, hairnets, etc.).
• Team-Oriented: Workers collaborate to ensure smooth production and packaging.

The position involves frequent exposure to nuts and other potential allergens.   

The pay scale for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The pay range for prospective employees in this role is $‎115,500 per year, with opportunities for overtime, shift differential, cold premium pay and annual bonuses (variable depending on company performance).

We offer a comprehensive group benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, paid time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, 401K plan with employer match and annual contribution available.

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Inc. provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants, regardless of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.