Production Manager

About Kerry

About the role

Under direction of the Plant Director, the Production Manager is responsible for the operations of all production areas to ensure that safety, quality, volume, and cost standards are achieved. Plans and establishes staffing requirements and production sequences to maximize productivity. Provides production process analysis and makes recommendations on solutions to process improvements. Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks.

Key responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The essential functions of this job include, but are not limited to:

•  Leading production employees in an appropriate manner regarding all aspects of production activities, including prioritizing duties, delegating work assignments and scheduling employees to optimize production.

•  Ensuring all safety and quality standards and procedures are followed.

•  Administers all quality procedures, GMPs, environmental sanitation and housekeeping.

•  Participating on cross-functional teams to build a culture of operational excellence and innovation.

•  Evaluating processes and methods, to make appropriate recommendations to continuously improve methods, equipment performance, utilization of people, and quality of product and safety objectives.

•  Acting as a technical resource to address and resolve inquiries and problems regarding production and quality.

•  Maintaining and controlling departmental supplies, tools and equipment as assigned.

•  Ensuring the accurate completion of all required production paperwork.

•  Actively involved in safety efforts including incident investigations, root cause analysis, and auditing.

•  Control production related costs that directly affect the plant’s performance.

•  Motivating, supporting and providing guidance to production staff.

•  Actively engage and support employee development.

•  Ensuring all safety and health standards are met to keep an organization accident-free.

•  Communicating regularly with upper management regarding problems or issues impacting production.

•  Evaluating machine resources to ensure continued production and minimal downtime.

•  Establishing a balance between increased productivity and reduced costs of manufacturing operations.

•  Setting productivity goals for each manufacturing team member.

•  Developing workflow policies and procedures that improve efficiency without compromising safety or quality.

•  Ensuring adequate scheduling of staff.

Qualifications and skills

Key competencies:

•  HACCP and food safety experience.

•  Analytical skills.

Education/Qualifications:

•  BS/MS in Engineering, Business, Food Science

Experience

•  5 Years Experience in food, Pharmaceutical or fermentation industry.

•  8 Years Experience leading and developing a team, required.

•  Continuous improvement understanding.

•  Thorough understanding of unit of operations.

•  Knowledge of lean manufacturing methodology.

Compensation Data

The pay range for this position is $91,404 - $154,009 in Annual Salary.  Kerry typically does not hire an individual at the top or near the top of the range, as we are a pay-for-performance company, and this range is set to continue to reward performance annually while in role.  Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.  The specific compensation offered to a candidate within the above range may be influenced by a variety of factors including skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity.  In addition, this position is also eligible to earn a performance-based incentive compensation.  Kerry offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, Employee Share Plan, Life, disability, and accident insurance, and tuition reimbursement.  This job posting is anticipated to expire on April 11th, 2026.

We may use artificial intelligence tools to support the review and assessment of applications and assist with scheduling interviews. We do not use AI to make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams.