Production Superintendent – 1st Shift
Fredericksburg, VA - USA
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Production Superintendent to lead first-shift operations within a high-volume poultry processing facility.
This is a senior production leadership position responsible for approximately 90 employees including two salaried Production Supervisors. The right candidate must have supervisory experience in poultry processing. Candidates from raw meat or protein processing environments may also be considered when their experience closely matches the operation.
This is not an entry-level manufacturing management position. You must understand how to lead supervisors manage production performance maintain food-safety standards control labor and keep a fast-moving processing operation on schedule.
- Direct and support first-shift Production Supervisors
- Oversee approximately 90 production employees
- Ensure production orders customer specifications and quality standards are met
- Monitor yields efficiencies downtime labor utilization and overall department performance
- Manage staffing levels line coverage attendance scheduling and employee performance
- Ensure compliance with HACCP plans GMPs sanitation standards and company procedures
- Maintain compliance with USDA OSHA and other regulatory requirements
- Work closely with Quality Assurance Maintenance Human Resources and plant leadership
- Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement
- Lead employee training coaching corrective action and development
- Respond quickly to production equipment staffing and quality issues
- Maintain accurate production reports and communicate results to plant management
- Previous supervisory or management experience in poultry processing
- Strong knowledge of raw poultry production and processing operations
- Experience managing Production Supervisors and large hourly workforces
- Understanding of HACCP GMPs food safety sanitation and USDA requirements
- Experience managing yields labor utilization production efficiency and downtime
- Strong leadership communication organization and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in a cold wet humid and fast-paced processing environment
- Basic computer proficiency including Microsoft Word Excel Outlook and production reporting systems
- Associate degree or bachelors degree in Poultry Science Animal Science Food Science Agriculture Engineering Business or a related field
- Experience with lean manufacturing continuous improvement or total quality management
- Previous leadership experience in raw meat or protein processing
The expected salary range is $70000$80000 per year depending on experience medical dental vision 401(k) with matching and PTO
Candidates who closely match the poultry-processing and leadership requirements but are slightly above the posted range are still encouraged to apply. Significantly higher salary expectations may not be considered.
This position requires regular time on the production floor and may involve:
- Cold wet and humid conditions
- Exposure to poultry feathers animal by-products and processing odors
- Extended periods of standing and walking
- Production demands that may occasionally require additional hours or weekend availability
Apply with a current resume that clearly shows your poultry or raw meat processing leadership experience.
The underlying position is responsible for directing first-shift supervisors maintaining production performance overseeing HACCP and GMP compliance coordinating with USDA representatives and managing staffing and employee performance.
Required Skills:
What Were Looking For 7 years of product development experience in food manufacturing Proven track record of launching and commercializing products Strong background in process development testing and optimization Experience working with meat products (kosher experience is a PLUS) Ability to lead projects at a commercial/production scale Comfortable managing multiple projects at once without missing deadlines Must-Have Skills Strong analytical problem-solving mindset Excellent project management and organization Ability to work independently AND lead cross-functional teams Deep understanding of food safety QA and regulatory standards BS/BA in Food Science Food Technology Chemistry or related field