Supervisor, Production (35411)

The Smokehouse Production Supervisor is responsible for overseeing daily smokehouse operations to ensure the safe, efficient, and compliant production of high-quality products. This position supervises smokehouse team members, coordinates production schedules, monitors product cooking and smoking processes, and ensures adherence to food safety, quality, USDA, GMP, HACCP, and company standards.

The Smokehouse Production Supervisor is expected to provide strong leadership, promote a culture of safety and accountability, optimize production performance, and support continuous improvement initiatives while maintaining product quality and yield targets.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Safety & Food Safety

• Promote and maintain a safe work environment.
• Ensure all employees follow safety policies and procedures.
• Verify proper use of required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Enforce GMP, HACCP, SSOP, USDA, and food safety requirements.
• Conduct routine area inspections and immediately address safety and food safety concerns.
• Participate in incident investigations and implement corrective actions as needed.

Production Operations

• Oversee daily smokehouse operations, including product loading, smoking, cooking, chilling, and unloading processes.
• Ensure production schedules are executed efficiently and on time.
• Monitor smokehouse cycles to ensure compliance with product specifications and validated cooking procedures.
• Verify product temperatures, cook times, humidity levels, smoke levels, and other critical process controls.
• Coordinate staffing assignments and workflow to maximize productivity.
• Monitor labor utilization and identify opportunities for operational efficiencies.
• Ensure accurate production reporting and tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs).

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure product quality standards and customer specifications are consistently met.
• Monitor and verify required quality checks, documentation, and records.
• Ensure accurate completion of cook logs, temperature records, line checks, and production paperwork.
• Support internal, customer, and regulatory audits.
• Investigate quality deviations and coordinate corrective actions.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop smokehouse production team members.
• Train employees on work instructions, safety procedures, quality standards, and equipment operation.
• Conduct performance discussions and provide timely feedback.
• Promote employee engagement and accountability.
• Recommend disciplinary action when necessary in accordance with company policies.

Equipment & Maintenance

• Monitor smokehouse equipment performance and identify operational concerns.
• Coordinate with Maintenance regarding repairs, preventive maintenance, and equipment downtime.
• Assist with troubleshooting smokehouse and processing equipment issues.
• Ensure equipment is operated safely and according to established procedures.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve yield, throughput, efficiency, quality, and safety.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and special projects.
• Support cost control efforts related to labor, materials, and product yields.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Required

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum of two (2) years of leadership or supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in food production, meat processing, or smokehouse operations.

Preferred

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Food Science, Manufacturing, or related field.
• Three (3) or more years of supervisory experience in a USDA-regulated food manufacturing environment.
• Experience with smoked meat products, thermal processing, and HACCP systems.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Competencies and Skills

• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Knowledge of smokehouse operations and thermal processing systems.
• Understanding of USDA, HACCP, GMP, and food safety regulations.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to analyze production data and drive improvements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook and Excel.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Frequently bend, twist, reach, climb, and stoop.
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds unassisted.
• Work around food processing equipment and production machinery.
• Possess visual and hearing acuity necessary to safely perform job duties.