Production Manager (2nd shift)

About Sara Lee Frozen Bakery

Sara Lee desserts have always stood for incredible flavor and superior value in the frozen food aisle and away from home markets.  For the first time in over 60 years, Sara Lee is operating independently as Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, a collection of top brands united in quality and innovation, including Sara Lee®, Chef Pierre®, Van’s®, Bistro Collection®, Superior on Main® and Cyrus O’Leary’s®.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery is proud to take these iconic brands into a new era and to continue the evolution that transformed one small Chicago bakery into an American institution. Using carefully sourced ingredients and time-honored recipes, the company is committed to making life’s moments a little sweeter, putting its customers first and discovering new ways to make everyone’s favorite foods even better.

Summary: 

The job of the Production Manager – is to manage the Manufacturing staff to ensure efficient operations including all factors of production (ingredients, materials and labor).  This includes responsibility for management of the operations portion of the ERP inventory and material management system.  They oversee supervisory support staff on shift, including Shipping/Receiving. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Maintain safe working conditions for all employees
• Manage the shift and assigned value stream to deliver product as scheduled, on time and cost effectively. Oversee all functions on shift including Shipping, Receiving, Quality, and Sanitation.
• Lead the shift to deliver quality and sanitation standards 
• Assist supervisors and other managers in meeting plant goals and performance expectations
• Direct and develop supervisor staff on shift by complete quarterly and annual reviews
• Maintain professional working relationship with the union leadership by managing union issues that arise on shift and handle in a consistent and impartial manner
• Develop and administer operations budgets
• Order operations supply as needed for the facility
• Manage the reconciliation of the NetSuite Inventory system
• Assist in any other activities or tasks as deemed necessary for the continued operation of the business as designated by operations management
• Develop and maintain working relationships with all levels of management in Engineering, Production, Material Control, Human Resources and Finance

The position responsibilities outlined above are not to be construed as all encompassing.  Other duties and responsibilities may be required and/or assigned as necessary.

Knowledge and Requirements: 

• The ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only partial information exists is required 
• The ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.  
• This position must communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.  
• The ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision is also required.
• Developed skills in management of ingredients, materials and labor including adherence to established quality and sanitation standards.
• Need to be flexible on hours worked, weekend overtime and daily overtime is expected.
• Must be able to make unpopular decisions in order to support goals, union contract or plant policies.
• Must have good problem solving and recognition skills and be able to react quickly to dynamic business conditions.
• Requires extended time on the production floor during production and sanitation operations
• This environment includes dust, noise, wet floors, climbing ladders and potentially slippery conditions
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, and noise levels that exceed 85dBL. 

Education:

• Associate’s degree in industrial technology or related field with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a Supervisory Production Manufacturing position preferred
• High School graduate with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Supervisory Production Manufacturing position with relevant certifications may be acceptable

Success Factors:

• Computer proficiency
• Good knowledge of accounting practices is helpful
• Knowledge of Maintenance and parts and preventative maintenance programs
• Able to manage complex and time sensitive projects to satisfaction of different groups
• High initiative in problem solving.
• Commitment to teamwork
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously with numerous interruptions.
• Must be self-motivated
• Strong English verbal and written communications skills required 
• Ability to communicate with personnel at different levels
• Effective communication and listening skills
• Bilingual English and Spanish preferred.

Supervisory: Operations Supervisors, Operations Lead personnel report to this position

Travel: Approximate 0-1% travel required and ability to tour facilities and grounds.

Sara Lee Frozen Bakery 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.