Production Manager

Description:Job Purpose

At Koppert, we are dedicated to fostering a sustainable world, working in harmony with nature, and putting our people at the core of this mission. As our Production Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring that our production processes are efficient, sustainable, and aligned with our company's values and goals. Your leadership will be essential in optimizing production operations and maintaining high-quality standards.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Production Manager to lead our production operations in Oxnard, California. The Production Manager will be responsible for building and guiding a growing team, overseeing production expansion for new biological product lines, and ensuring all processes meet rigorous customer guidelines, USDA standards, and safety regulations. The Production Manager will also oversee the inventory, packaging, and shipping of live biological products.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Team Leadership & Development: Recruit, train, and manage a skilled and dedicated production team. Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide timely feedback, and foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Production Planning & Expansion: Oversee capacity and production planning to ensure on-time delivery and customer satisfaction, with a focus on expanding production capabilities for new biological products. Develop scalable processes and ensure the facility is prepared to meet future demand.

Production Process Management: Direct and monitor all aspects of live product preparation, packaging, and shipping to meet customer, USDA, and internal quality standards. Identify and implement improvements in production workflow, packaging efficiency, and shipping logistics.

Lean Process Improvement: Champion problem-solving initiatives and use Lean principles to optimize production metrics. Continuously seek opportunities to improve production efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality.

Quality & Compliance: Create standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work with the Quality Department to audit and maintain process consistency. Ensure all activities comply with quality standards, and address process variances proactively. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local safety and health regulations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with other departments, including maintenance, logistics, sales, and quality assurance, to support facility needs and coordinate activities across teams.

Equipment & Maintenance: Coordinate with the maintenance team to ensure preventive maintenance schedules are followed for process safety and equipment reliability.

Training & Cross-Training: Plan, initiate, and assist in training production employees on standard operating procedures, fostering a cross-trained workforce that can adapt to changing production needs.

Inventory & Waste Management: Monitor inventory to align with forecast versus sales and manage waste reduction efforts to minimize scrap.

Safety & Health Standards: Develop and implement safety procedures, ensuring a safe working environment for all employees. Address any hazards or safety concerns in a timely manner.

Budgeting & Expense Planning: Contribute to the development of capital expense plans and budgets, providing project justification and adhering to financial goals.

Other Duties: Perform other production-related tasks as assigned.

Requirements:

Skills and Qualifications

Strong leadership skills, with a proven ability to build, develop, and lead a team effectively.

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all organizational levels.

Strong organizational, planning, and facilitation skills, with the ability to make strategic decisions.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and able to produce detailed reports on production performance.

Thorough understanding of safety and health regulations, particularly OSHA standards.

Knowledge of production processes, quality control, cost management, and continuous improvement techniques.

Ability to function well in a fast-paced, sometimes high-stress environment.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in management, engineering, business, or related field; or equivalent industry experience.

Minimum of 5 years of experience in production/manufacturing, with a focus on team leadership and production management.

Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing; experience in warehousing preferred.

Experience in supply chain, logistics, or distribution is a plus.

Experience working in the agriculture industry is a plus.

Experience with continuous improvement projects and knowledge of ISO quality systems are highly desirable.

Working Conditions

Work takes place in a production environment with moderate noise levels.

Regular exposure to live biological materials, including bumblebees and mites.

Periodic work in hot or cold conditions.

Travel may be required for training or Production Management gatherings.

Physical Requirements

Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods.

Ability to lift and move up to 10 pounds regularly, 25 pounds frequently, and up to 50 pounds occasionally.

Regularly engage in repetitive motion, bending, lifting, twisting, crouching, reaching, and pushing.

Ability to manage physical and emotional demands in a fast-paced environment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Lead recruitment, hiring, and training efforts in coordination with the Human Resources department to build a highly capable production team.

Oversee scheduling, training, and development of front-line employees, providing timely performance evaluations.

Administer disciplinary actions and terminations per company policy.

Working at Koppert

Koppert stands at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, having been founded in 1967 by visionary Dutch grower Jan Koppert. Our mission is to make agriculture healthier, safer, and more productive by partnering with nature. We achieve this through the use of natural enemies to combat pests, employing bumblebees for pollination, and leveraging microbials and bio stimulants to support, protect, and strengthen crops. Our innovations have propelled a significant shift towards sustainable agriculture over the past 50 years, offering growers and farmers worldwide natural solutions that restore balance in their crops, improve health and resilience, and increase yield.

With a clear vision of achieving 100% sustainable agriculture, we collaborate with growers, partners, universities, research institutions, and governmental.