Job description
HarvestPeak Foods is seeking a proactive Food Production Operations Manager in Los Angeles, CA to lead our manufacturing floor and ensure the highest standards of quality and safety.
In this pivotal role, you will oversee daily production, enforce HACCP and FSMA compliance, and drive efficiency across multiple lines while leading a growing team. You will partner with QA, procurement, R&D, and logistics to deliver exceptional products to market.
We offer competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, 401(k), and opportunities for career growth within a dynamic, food-first culture.
Responsibility
- Lead daily production operations across assigned lines, ensuring on-time output and minimal downtime.
- Develop and enforce SOPs for production, packaging, sanitation, and quality control in line with HACCP, FSMA, and GMP.
- Oversee QA checks, product sampling, deviation investigations, and root-cause analysis to ensure product safety and quality.
- Collaborate with R&D, procurement, maintenance, and logistics to optimize yield, reduce waste, and improve efficiency.
- Manage production scheduling, capacity planning, and staffing to meet forecasted demand.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives (LEAN, 6S, Kaizen) to raise OEE and reduce waste.
- Ensure regulatory compliance, allergen controls, labeling accuracy, and traceability across all products.
- Lead and develop a high-performance production team through coaching, training, and performance management.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in food manufacturing or processing with supervisory responsibilities.
- Deep knowledge of HACCP, FSMA, GMP, allergen controls, and food safety systems.
- Proven track record in QA/QC, process optimization, and cost control.
- Experience with ERP/MES systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and data-driven decision making.
- Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills; ability to build and coach cross-functional teams.
- Ability to manage fast-paced production schedules and adapt to changing priorities.
- Food safety minded with a commitment to continuous improvement and quality.