Production Manager | Linda Fruit, a Crunch Pak Sister Company

Job Description

The Production Manager is responsible for leading all day-to-day operations of a technologically advanced apple sorting and sizing facility. This position ensures the safe, efficient, and cost-effective processing of apples while maintaining the highest standards of product quality, food safety, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction.

The Production Manager provides leadership to supervisors and production teams, driving continuous improvement initiatives and leveraging cutting-edge sorting, grading, automation, data collection, and packing technologies to maximize throughput, reduce waste, and improve operational performance. The position plays a critical role in developing team capabilities through coaching, training, and performance management.

Job Duties

Key Responsibilities

Production Leadership
• Direct and coordinate daily production activities to achieve safety, quality, service, and cost objectives.
• Manage sorting, sizing, packing, and product flow operations to maximize throughput and efficiency.
• Ensure production schedules are executed effectively and customer requirements are met.
• Monitor labor utilization and staffing levels to align resources with production demands.
• Collaborate with Maintenance, Quality, Food Safety, and Supply Chain teams to optimize operations.
• Drive operational accountability through the use of performance metrics and production reporting.

Technology & Process Management
• Develop expert-level knowledge of the facility’s automated sorting, sizing, grading, vision systems, robotics, and production technologies.
• Lead the implementation, optimization, and adoption of emerging technologies that improve operational performance.
• Utilize production data and analytics to identify trends, improve yields, and reduce inefficiencies.
• Identify opportunities to increase automation, reduce labor dependency, and improve product consistency.

Quality & Food Safety
• Ensure all products meet quality specifications, customer expectations, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to maintain compliance with food safety programs, audits, certifications, and customer standards.
• Monitor pack quality, defect rates, product yields, and sorting accuracy.
• Lead corrective actions for quality issues and implement preventive measures to improve overall performance.

Safety Leadership
• Foster and maintain a safety-first culture across all departments.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety policies, OSHA regulations, and best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement in workplace safety performance.

Cost Management & Operational Efficiency
• Manage operations to achieve departmental budgets and operating expense expectations.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce operating costs, increase labor productivity, and improve equipment utilization.
• Monitor key performance indicators including:
• Throughput
• Labor efficiency
• Yield recovery
• Downtime
• Product quality metrics
• Cost per packed unit
• Lead continuous improvement efforts focused on waste reduction and process optimization.

Leadership & Team Development
• Lead, coach, develop, and motivate leads and production personnel.
• Establish clear performance expectations and provide ongoing feedback.
• Ensure consistent communication across shifts and departments.
• Ensure team members are properly trained in safety, quality standards, food safety protocols, equipment operation, and production processes.
• Create cross-training opportunities to improve workforce flexibility and capability.
• Assess training effectiveness and implement improvements as needed.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Science, Business or related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and industry experience may be considered.

Experience

• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing, food processing, produce packing, or agricultural operations leadership experience.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing supervisors and production teams.
• Experience in automated production environments strongly preferred.
• Experience with fresh produce, food manufacturing, packing facilities, or agricultural operations preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, production planning, and process optimization.
• Demonstrated experience managing safety, quality, cost, and production performance.
• Ability to analyze operational data and make data-driven decisions.
• Strong leadership, communication, and employee development skills.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Working knowledge of food safety systems, GMPs, HACCP, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish strongly preferred

Technical Competencies

• Automated sorting and grading systems
• Vision technology and quality inspection systems
• Robotics and production automation
• Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel

Key Experience

• Employee safety performance and incident rates
• Product quality and customer complaint metrics
• Production throughput and schedule attainment
• Labor efficiency and productivity
• Yield recovery and pack-out performance
• Equipment uptime and operational effectiveness
• Cost per unit processed
• Employee retention and engagement
• Training completion and workforce competency levels

Physical Requirements: Ability to work in a manufacturing and warehouse environment, including extended periods walking production floors, climbing stairs, and working around moving equipment.

Work Environment: Fast-paced fresh produce processing and packing facility requiring frequent interaction with production personnel, maintenance teams, quality staff, and operational leadership. The position requires flexibility to support varying production schedules, peak seasons, and operational demands.

Compensation

This position is Exempt – Salaried.  Annual Range: $85,000 – $135,000, depending on experience.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Paid Time Off and Holidays