If you want to become a food production manager, you first need to determine if this career path is a good fit for your skills, interests and personality traits. If the following description sounds like you, then you’re probably well suited for a career as a food production manager:
• You are able to effectively evaluate the efficiency of production
• You enjoy motivating and leading employees
• You enjoy managing the work of people and delegating tasks
• You are able to balance the need for a high profit margin with high quality
• You have a results-oriented approach to work activities
• You have an interest in raising production and product quality standards
Below we've outlined what you'll need to begin a career as a food production manager. We've also included helpful information for this career, such as job description, job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employers and much more!
Experience Needed to Become a Food Production Manager
Although there are no industry-wide standards with regards to the experience needed to become a food production manager, employers typically prefer to hire candidates for food production manager jobs that have at least 5 years of experience in production (preferably in food production) with a few of those years being in a supervisory capacity.
Education Needed to Become a Food Production Manager
The educational requirements for becoming a food production manager vary by employer, and there is no standard educational requirement for entering this profession. However, many employers prefer you to have a related degree or post-secondary diploma in Business, Food Science, Food Technology or Production and Operations Management.
Food Production Manager Job Description
Food production managers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day production and operations of a food production plant. They must ensure the product provides superior customer satisfaction, while keeping production costs low. They must also ensure that they are providing a safe and healthy work environment for all employees.
Food production managers are accountable for adhering to customer quality and quantity requirements; they must ensure that the proper amount of product is being produced for the customer, and within quality standards.
They are also accountable for ensuring that food production adheres to good manufacturing practices, quality programs, safety programs, and human resources standards and practices.
It is common for food production managers to serve as a liaison with governmental agencies, health inspectors, the fire department and senior management.
Food Production Manager Job Duties
• Monitor plant operation for efficiency and safety
• Ensure that all company and governmental regulations are adhered to
• Supervise production staff and supervisors
• Assist in the evaluation of current and proposed system procedures
• Recommend changes to company procedures and oversee the implementation of any changes
• Walk through plant daily in order to ensure employees and supervisors are demonstrating good work habits
• Serve as contact for outside agencies and safety consultants
• Attend scheduled safety committee meetings conducted in-house or by safety consulting companies
• Serve as contact for government inspections
Who Creates Jobs for Food Production Managers?
Food production managers are typically employed on a full-time or contractual basis by management consultancies, as well as small, medium and large companies that develop, market and distribute food and beverage products such as:
• Bottled water
• Sports drinks
• Soft drinks
• Juice products
• Alcoholic beverages (such as beer, wine and spirits)
• Perishable food products (such as dairy products and produce-based products)
• Non-perishable food products (such as snack foods and canned foods)
• Organic food products
• And many other types of food and beverage products
Find Food Production Manager Job Opportunities
Food Production Manager Jobs - Canada
Food Production Manager Jobs - United States
Skills Needed to Become a Food Production Manager
In order to become effective in a career as a food production manager, and perform your job duties with competence, you need to posses a certain set of skills, including:
• The ability to motivate and lead employees
• Must be able to identify problems immediately and solve them
• Able to determine if a defective product is a onetime problem or the result of the production process
• Able to carefully manage own time, and the time of the employees
• Able to effectively evaluate the efficiency of production
• Able to plan and manage budgets
Characteristics Needed to Become a Food Production Manager
In order to enjoy performing the duties of a food production manager, you need to have certain personality traits. Taking enjoyment from your duties as a food production manager is important, as it helps you maintain a positive attitude towards your work, which usually leads to having a long and successful career.
• You enjoy directing the work of others
• You have an interest in raising production and product quality standards
• You have a commitment to customer service
• You have a commitment to product quality
• You enjoy negotiating with other managers to find innovative solutions to problems
Food Production Manager Salary
The salary level of food production managers can vary, depending on their level of education, their level of experience, the size and type of their employer, the region in which they are employed, and many other factors.
Food Production Manager Salary Alberta: According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans working in the Manufacturing Managers occupational group earn an average of between $35.20 and $50.64 per hour.
Food Production Manager Salary Canada: According to Service Canada, the average salary level of Canadian workers in the Manufacturing Managers occupational group is $71,895 per year.
Food Production Manager Salary United States: According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary level of American workers in the Industrial Production Managers occupational group is $89,190 per year.
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Careers Similar to Food Production Manager
Listed below are careers in our database that are similar in nature to Food Production Manager, as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
References: Food Production Manager Career Information
Please consult the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as a food production manager.
Alberta Learning and Information Service website: alis.alberta.ca
Cardiff Metropolitan University website: www3.cardiffmet.ac.uk
United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website: www.bls.gov
Scholarships for Becoming a Food Production Manager
Scholarships listed for majors that apply to becoming a Food Production Manager can be found on our Nutrition Scholarships and Management Scholarships pages.
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Becoming a Food Production Manager: Applicable Majors
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point to becoming a food production manager. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
