Production Manager Job at Open Gates Group in Iowa

Overview

Open Gates Group, based near Kalona, IA, is a family of companies dedicated to the growth and manufacturing of local dairy products. What began as a single creamery has grown into 11 businesses that source, produce, and deliver high-quality Midwestern products to over 3,500 stores nationwide. Our organic milk is uniquely special because it comes from grass-fed cows on small family farms, pasteurized at the lowest legal temperature, non-homogenized, and verified regenerative through Land to Market, which means that our cows are grazed in a way that enhances the environment, rather than harming it. We’re looking for a hands-on Production Manager to lead our dairy production operations.

Position Summary

The Production Manager is a highly hands-on role focused on ensuring efficient, safe, and high-quality dairy production processes, while fostering a strong team culture that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and food safety. We are looking for someone who is process-driven and thrives in a production environment—someone who doesn’t just want to lead from a distance but is actively involved on the floor, where the work is happening.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Development
• Lead and coach a team of supervisors and production staff, fostering accountability, teamwork, and engagement.
• Conduct regular coaching discussions and provide professional development opportunities.
• Develop staffing schedules, oversee training, and ensure employees understand roles, responsibilities, and company policies.
• Production Oversight
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee daily production activities to meet goals for safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Support the launch of new products by coordinating cross-functional teams and overseeing batching and processing activities.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, HACCP, SSOPs, OSHA, FDA, USDA, and organic certification requirements.
• Food Safety & Quality
• Support a culture of food safety and quality across all operations. Ensure compliance with food safety and quality management systems, including HACCP and SQF.
• Review incidents of non-compliance, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Continuous Improvement & Metrics
• Monitor metrics related to production efficiency, safety, and quality.
• Analyze production data to identify trends and drive improvements.
• Lead and support change initiatives, introducing new processes or technologies to enhance plant performance.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement.
• Collaboration & Communication
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Quality, Supply Chain, R&D, and HR, to drive alignment and ensure operational success.
• Lead regular team meetings on production safety, performance, and process updates.
• Clearly communicate production goals, customer requirements, and expectations to all teams.

Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food/Dairy Science, Agriculture, Business, Supply Chain, or related field preferred; candidates with a high school diploma/GED and 5+ years of proven production leadership will also be considered.
• 5+ years of leadership experience in a dairy plant or fluid food processing facility preferred.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations and manufacturing compliance (GMP, HACCP, OSHA, FDA, USDA).
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams to achieve production goals and business objectives.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage conflict professionally.
• Strong organizational, project management, and prioritization skills; able to adapt and lead through change.