Production Manager

Nichols Farms is one of the top processors of pistachios in the United States. For more than two decades, Nichols Farms has maintained superior quality and exceptional service in supplying pistachio and almond products to major retail and wholesale clients domestically and internationally. Nichols Farms maintains a state-of-the-art processing facility at their corporate headquarters in Hanford, California, employing over 350 employees. Join the Nichols Farms Team in their objective of continued growth. Nichols Farms possesses a strong employee-oriented environment dedicated to training and growth of team members.

The Nichols Farms Mission and Vision supports a culture of striving for mutual success of our employees, suppliers and customers through operational excellence and educational development.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Production Manager is responsible for all production operations, which includes kernel processing in Building 2, assisting Supervisors from RTE (ready-to-eat), roasting, Building 6 processing, Building 7 & 8 packaging and RTE, and maintenance. Provide hands-on leadership and direction to our teams to deliver operational excellence. The ideal candidate has experience within the agricultural industry, manufacturing operations, and/or hands-on experience managing food products. Ensure compliance of all labor, safety, quality, company policies, and regulations. This role is expected to develop individuals and teams to solve operational deficiencies and motivate team members to achieve performance targets. Candidates must be a strategic partner with a strong work ethic and an unfaltering determination to excel in a fast-paced environment, and a desire to gain tremendous personal and professional growth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and maintain daily activities of the production department (through all kernel building 2 process equipment and handsort), ensuring product adheres to Nichols Farms' standard of quality and food safety.
• Maintain effective working relationships with other shift leadership through open communication, visibility, and hands-on involvement to promote a positive working environment that maximizes safety, quality, production, and employee engagement.
• Responsible for managing Kernel Processing area and assisting leadership from other departments.
• Provide direction to supervisors on team member coaching and development, employment decisions, and resolving issues through conflict resolution.
• Manage and deliver Company Mission and Vision by demonstrating and instilling core values to all team members.
• Manage daily and weekly run schedules to meet annual department (Kernel) and plant goals. Help to establish and adjust work procedures and schedules to meet production plan.

• Develop and communicate the daily product schedule to kernel building 2 and others affected.
• Manage all kernel process WIP by FIFO and assist other department's leadership in this area.

• Analyze and submit reports for productions numbers, downtime, attendance, overtime, and quality checks to the Production Director. This will include daily review of shift timecards and managing all time off requests in a manner that limits disruption to processing outputs.
• Support and train utility operators/color sorters and have current knowledge of color sorting machines.
• Responsible for ensuring and improving the performance, productivity, efficiency, and profitability of departmental and organizational operations by implementing effective strategies and continuous improvement.

• Analyze, propose, and implement process changes to improve production methods, equipment performance, and to gain efficiency and reliability to support business objectives.
• Collaborate with Maintenance leadership to plan preventative maintenance on the production lines.
• Develop capital equipment justification for machine upgrades and process technology to improve quality, cost, and cycle times.
• Provide daily feedback to directors of kernel process, and other departments with issues/concerns.
• Support Sage X3 (ERP system) functions within kernel department and other departments as time permits.
• Work with kernel managers and/or other managers/directors making sure daily/weekly schedule is executed.
• Collaborate with key leadership to champion best of class safety culture. Adhere to the highest standards of Nichols Farms and plant safety programs, rules, and regulations in order to ensure a safe work environment.

• Partner with Human Resources for recruitment, corrective actions, hiring, and disciplinary actions. Regularly review staffing needs to ensure headcount corresponds with production needs.
• Abide by Nichols Farms' Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and Food Safety Standards at all times
• Perform other tasks and special projects as assigned based on company needs.

JOB COMPETENCIES:

• Strategic Decision Making: Obtaining information and identifying key issues relevant to achieving objectives and committed to developing alternatives based on external and internal data.
• Building Strategic Working Relationships: Using collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals and identifying key issues and relationships relevant to achieving a long-range goal or vision.
• Building a Successful Team: Ability to apply methods and a flexible interpersonal style to help build a cohesive team and facilitate the completion of team goals.
• Change and Innovation: Demonstrating a desire to seek new ways of doing things and leading teams to see the opportunities presented by change.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills. The ability to convey information in an effective manner.
• Planning and Organizing: Establishing courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is completed efficiently.
• People Development: Ability to develop direct reports skills and competencies by planning effective development and training plans.
• Resource Management (People & Equipment): Ability to obtain and appropriate the proper usage of equipment, facilities, materials, as well as personnel.
• Continuous Improvement: Active participant in continuous improvement initiatives and goals. Seeks opportunities to improve self and processes.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations Management, Ag Business, or related field highly desired, or equivalent managerial experience in a manufacturing environment.

• 3-plus years of managerial experience in manufacturing management preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and ERP systems, such as Sage X3.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to effectively communicate ideas, goals, and results to various audiences.
• Strong problem-solving skills; analytical and data-driven; able to come up with creative solutions to unique challenges.

• Excellent organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks and meet constant deadlines with strong attention to detail and quality control.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand for periods of time at workstation, climb stairs at high heights. Ability to work and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception. Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as designated by the company. Primary work environment will be in an office setting. Some work includes being inside the plant manufacturing environment which may include high levels of noise, working outside where the environment includes exposure to hot, cold, and inclement weather.

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

This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Company may deem appropriate.

EOE/M/F/D/V