Dairy Production Manager

Dairy Production Manager

The Dairy Production Manager is responsible for overseeing daily manufacturing operations within a dairy processing facility to ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective production. This role provides leadership to production supervisors and plant employees while driving continuous improvement, quality, food safety, productivity, and customer satisfaction. The Dairy Production Manager ensures compliance with all regulatory, GMP, sanitation, and food safety requirements while meeting production goals and operational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations across dairy manufacturing and processing departments.
• Manage production schedules, staffing, and resource allocation to achieve production targets.
• Drive operational excellence through continuous improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Monitor and improve key performance indicators including safety, quality, yield, efficiency, throughput, and labor utilization.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, sanitation, GMP, HACCP, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with maintenance, quality, warehouse, and supply chain teams to optimize plant performance.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and operational best practices.
• Identify production challenges, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Lead employee development, performance management, coaching, and succession planning efforts.
• Foster a positive safety culture and ensure compliance with company, state, and federal regulations.
• Manage inventory levels, production materials, and operational resources.
• Prepare and present operational reports, production metrics, and improvement plans to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Science, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of production management experience in dairy, food, or beverage manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of dairy processing operations, food safety systems, GMPs, HACCP, and quality standards.
• Experience leading large production teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven success driving continuous improvement, productivity, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, production reporting tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Skills

• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma experience.
• Knowledge of pasteurization, packaging, and dairy processing equipment.
• Experience with regulatory audits and food safety certifications.
• Strong analytical and KPI-driven management approach.
• Ability to lead change and build high-performing teams.