Production Manager - K9 & Kin

About the Role

As K9 & Kin continues to grow, we are seeking an experienced and results-driven Production Supervisor to lead daily manufacturing operations within our pet food production facility. This role is responsible for directing hourly operations team members while ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant production of high-quality pet food products. 

Reporting to the Operations / Production Manager, you will oversee production activities across ingredient receiving, batching, extrusion, post-processing, packaging, and finished product handling. Working closely with Planning, Warehouse, Maintenance, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Procurement, and Engineering teams, you will drive operational excellence while fostering a culture centered on safety, accountability, teamwork, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Production Leadership: Lead daily manufacturing operations during assigned shifts, ensuring production schedules are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with quality, throughput, and customer service goals. 
• Team Development & Engagement: Coach, mentor, and develop hourly Operations team members through performance management, training, cross-functional development, and employee engagement initiatives. 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Planning, Warehouse, Maintenance, Procurement, Quality Assurance, Food Safety, and Engineering teams to optimize production performance, troubleshoot issues, and support changing business priorities. 
• Safety, Food Safety & Quality: Ensure compliance with OSHA, SQF, HACCP, GMP, FDA, environmental, and company requirements while maintaining audit-ready operations and sanitation standards. Lead investigations and corrective actions related to safety, quality, and operational issues. 
• Operational Excellence & Reporting: Monitor key production metrics including throughput, OEE, labor efficiency, downtime, yield, waste, quality, and schedule attainment. Lead continuous improvement initiatives, complete operational reporting, manage staffing needs, and support capital projects and new product introductions. 

Who You Are

• Experience: You have manufacturing experience in food, pet food, feed, or other highly automated production environments, including direct supervisory responsibility for production teams. 
• Education: A bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Food Science, Business, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent manufacturing leadership experience will be considered.
• Leader: You have strong leadership, coaching, and employee development skills and enjoy building engaged, high-performing teams. 
• Problem Solver: You are a confident decision-maker with strong troubleshooting, organizational, and time management skills in fast-paced manufacturing environments. 
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: You have experience using manufacturing KPIs and driving operational improvements through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, or similar methodologies. 
• Technical Capability: You are proficient with ERP, MES, Microsoft Office, and production reporting systems, with knowledge of food safety, quality systems, and manufacturing performance metrics. Experience with extrusion processing, automated systems, and SQF/HACCP environments is a plus. 
• Flexible & Collaborative: You communicate effectively across departments and are willing to work flexible schedules as business needs require. 

Working Conditions

This role is primarily based within a manufacturing environment and requires regular interaction with production, warehouse, maintenance, quality, and engineering teams. The position may require working nights, weekends, holidays, and extended hours based on operational needs. 

About the Company

K9 & Kin is a family-owned, U.S.-based pet food company built to develop, produce, and support a diverse portfolio of high-quality pet nutrition brands across multiple segments of the industry. Our platform is designed to serve the unique needs of the farm, feed, and specialty retail channels, delivering products that balance performance, value, and trust. 

Being family-owned shapes how we operate. We take a long-term view, value relationships over transactions, and hold ourselves accountable to the same standards we expect from our partners. We collaborate closely with retailers and suppliers who share our commitment to reliability, transparency, and sustainable growth. 

Above all, we are driven by a simple goal: to produce pet food people can trust, from a company they enjoy doing business with. 

K9 & Kin Offers

• Competitive compensation package
 • Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with eligibility from the date of hire
 • 401(K) with company match
 • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy
 • Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance
 • Company-paid Life Insurance
 • Professional development opportunities
 • A collaborative and dynamic work environment 

K9 & Kin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate applicants based on their qualifications and experience, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Employment is subject to verification of credentials, reference checks, and a pre-employment drug screening and background check. 

Only qualified candidates will be contacted.