Production Supervisor

Production SupervisorSuperior Skilled Trades is seeking an experienced Production Supervisor for a direct-hire opportunity with a growing food manufacturing operation in Hackettstown, NJ. This is a hands-on leadership position responsible for overseeing production personnel, maintaining operational standards, and ensuring safe, efficient, and consistent production throughout the assigned shift.The ideal candidate will have previous manufacturing leadership experience along with food manufacturing experience and be comfortable maintaining a strong presence on the production floor.ScheduleMonday–Friday with some weekend requirementsMinimum of 45 hours per week, which may fluctuate based on production needsExact schedule will be assigned by the Plant Manager and may change based on departmental and operational needsFull-time, onsite positionKey ResponsibilitiesProduction & Shift LeadershipLead daily manufacturing activities for the assigned shiftCommunicate production schedules, priorities, and expectations to operators and production leadsMonitor production output, downtime, scrap, labor utilization, and workflow throughout the shiftEnsure employees follow established work instructions, SOPs, and production standardsIdentify performance gaps and take immediate corrective actionOversee proper equipment startup, production changeovers, and shutdown proceduresEscalate unresolved production or operational issues to managementMaintain consistent execution of production goals and expectationsTeam Leadership & AccountabilityDirectly supervise production operators and team leadsMaintain accountability for employee attendance, conduct, productivity, GMP compliance, and overall performanceCoach, train, and provide ongoing performance feedback to employeesAssist with onboarding and training new production employeesDevelop employees and reinforce performance expectationsEnsure accurate and complete shift-to-shift handoff communicationPartner with management and HR regarding performance concerns and disciplinary actions when necessarySafety, Food Safety & QualityEnforce company safety policies, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety requirements, and quality standardsEnsure employees properly utilize required PPEIdentify and immediately address unsafe behaviors or working conditionsSupport QA requirements and production responsibilities associated with food safety programsEnsure production records and documentation are completed accurately and on timeAssist with investigations, corrective actions, and process deviationsWork closely with QA while respecting QA authority regarding food safety verification and product hold/release decisionsOperational Excellence & Continuous ImprovementMaintain clean, organized, and inspection-ready production areasSupport initiatives designed to reduce downtime, scrap, and production wasteIdentify operational inefficiencies and recommend improvement opportunitiesReinforce standardized processes and consistent operating practicesSupport implementation of new procedures, process improvements, and operational changesMonitor key production metrics, including safety, quality, labor utilization, output attainment, downtime, waste, and attendanceCross-Functional CoordinationWork closely with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Warehouse, and Sanitation teamsProactively communicate equipment problems, production risks, and operational concernsEnsure required materials, personnel, and equipment are available to meet production requirementsSupport equipment troubleshooting and production recovery effortsCoordinate resources to minimize production interruptions and downtimeQualificationsRequiredHigh school diploma or equivalentPrevious manufacturing leadership/supervisory experiencePrevious food manufacturing experienceExperience supervising production employees in a manufacturing environmentWorking knowledge of GMPs and food safety requirementsStrong leadership, communication, and employee-accountability skillsAbility to understand and work with production KPIs and performance metricsAbility to identify and troubleshoot operational issues in real timeBasic computer skills and experience completing production documentationPreferredExperience leading teams in a high-volume, fast-paced food production environmentExperience monitoring labor utilization, production output, downtime, scrap, and wasteExperience working cross-functionally with QA, Maintenance, Warehouse, and SanitationPrevious experience supporting continuous-improvement initiativesWork EnvironmentThis is an active, hands-on production-floor leadership position. Candidates must be comfortable:Standing and walking for extended periodsWorking around heat, noise, moving machinery, and active production equipmentWearing required PPE while in production areasMaintaining an active presence on the production floor for the majority of the shiftWorking a flexible schedule based on production and operational requirementsWhat We're Looking ForWe're seeking a strong floor leader, not someone who manages solely from an office.

The successful Production Supervisor will be comfortable holding employees accountable, responding quickly to production issues, enforcing safety and food-quality standards, and keeping the shift focused on production goals.This individual will take ownership of safety, quality, labor performance, output, downtime response, waste reduction, attendance, and overall shift execution while developing a productive and accountable manufacturing team.This is a Direct Hire opportunity through Superior Skilled Trades. INDH