Fresh City Farms Hiring for Production Operations Manager (FT) at North York, ON Full Time

Role Summary:
The Production Operations Manager – PM Production is a newly created role and will report directly to the Director, Production Operations. They will join the existing team of Production Managers and be responsible for the day-to-day operations for the PM Production shift from Tuesday to Saturday. They will oversee a 7-day a week production & prep shift and be responsible for planning, forecasting, scheduling and executing the daily production & prep schedule for all menu items while upholding quality, safety, and budget standards.

We are seeking an experienced food production manager with medium-scale food production/equipment/manufacturing background and frozen model expertise to uplevel our current operations into a humming, efficient, profitable production center, with a safety and quality mindset.

The successful candidate will:
Embrace a growth mindset and have a “can-do” attitude

Be organized, forward-thinking, and detailed oriented to succeed in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment

Be collaborative, communicative, and consider “the customer” at every point – including external/internal customers & stakeholders, hourly team members, and financial targets

Lead by example; foster and nurture a positive team dynamic and culture

Model safety and QA leadership

Be excited to make a difference and to put their thumbprint on shaping the growth of the kitchen and company

Continuous Improvement mindset, recommending and implementing process improvement opportunities to improve safety, quality, cost or efficiencies

What you will be doing:Duties & Responsibilities:
Works with Director, Production Operations to forecast and plan daily & weekly production based on sales forecast, inventory, production capacity and material availability: aiming for consistent in-stock rates for all items

Directs the hiring process and people scheduling to achieve labour targets and executes training programs: building and nurturing a highly motivated, flexible, engaged, and high-performing team

Will be a key member of the NAV ERP implementation process for BakeryNAV project, including documenting standard recipes and yield calculations, BOM creation, and item setup

Liaises with the Innovation Manager and Product Development Chef on all-new recipes, process improvements, and product launches

Champions and ‘walks the talk’ fostering Fresh City Farms mission and values

Drive significant cost reductions across all aspects of production including increased line efficiency, waste control and higher labour productivity

Effectively measure, control, and continuously improve wastage concerns: ingredients, packaging materials, WIP, and finished products

Works with Quality Assurance and Food Innovation & Technology Manager to cultivate a Continuous Quality Improvement mentality on the production floor to yield better processes, to make every production employee a quality and safety-conscious employee, to reduce wastage, and to increase utilization of equipment capacity

Is responsible for product quality and the prevention of substandard quality: identifies and reduces costs resulting from poor quality; anticipates problem areas and takes necessary steps to circumvent these problems

Understands and enforces Employment Standards, promotes good hygiene and safe food handling (GMP)

Ensures that equipment is properly safeguarded against safety hazards and maintained regularly for smooth machine operation

Ensures that equipment is properly calibrated on a regular basis and cleaning & maintenance schedules are in place and adhered to

Ensures that the production team are properly trained in equipment operation to uphold safety practices and minor trouble-shooting and care of equipment

Cross-functional collaboration with all support teams and departments, including retail locations

Attends leadership meetings and represents the PM Production shift to cascade information back to leadership team and down to hourly staff enabling consistent flow of communication

What you’re bringing to the table:
Five (5) years of food industry experience in a food manufacturing setting

Knowledge of baking theory is a strong asset

Able to work evening shifts 5 days a week, including weekends, and overnight shifts as the business requires

Able to lift up to 40kg

Able to stand for long periods of time (8-10 hours)

Food safety, handling and bread skills a strong asset

5 years of people management/supervisory experience

Works well in a team setting (agreeable, courteous, and positive)

Reliable (always shows up on time)

Organized and able to work quickly

Pay close attention to detail and can work neatly

Are a strong leader, who coaches and mentors the team – fostering direct and open communication

Interest/knowledge in organics/farming/local food, an asset

Strong communication skills, oral and written

Other fun facts:
Employee Discounts at retail stores and online for Fresh City, Mama Earth, The Healthy Butcher, and Mabel’s Bakery

Health and Dental benefits paid by the employer

Safety footwear allowance, paid sick days, a fun team, and more!

About Fresh City Family of Brands

Fresh City is an award-winning urban farm and omnichannel retailer. Founder-led, we’re on a mission to provide a better life through food. More than one decade after we first began, our belief in that is even stronger. Every day, we deliver organic produce, chef-inspired and made from scratch prepared foods, bespoke meats and more to thousands of Greater Toronto Area families.

In 2018, Fresh City acquired Mabel’s Bakery, a popular bakery in Toronto producing artisan breads and pastries, and shortly after acquired The Healthy Butcher, a pioneer in organic and 100% Grass-Fed beef, in 2019. In 2022, subscription-based organic produce and grocery delivery company Mama Earth Organics was added to the lineup of brands making Fresh City the largest organic online retailer in Ontario.

With eight retail locations and home delivery across the GTA between our four brands, the Fresh City family of brands continues to bring farmers, makers and eaters together to deliver a food experience that respects our bodies, our planet, and our shared tomorrow.

Food is our passion. We proudly employ over 500 employees across our four brands including our farm, our two warehouses, our food production facilities, our offices, and our retail locations. We’re continuously advancing our culture of belonging, where everyone feels seen, heard, valued and free to be their authentic selves.

Our Commitment

We thank all interested applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Fresh City is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We consider all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, and Indigenous status. If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We will work with you to provide as seamless a recruitment experience as possible.

About Fresh City Farms:
Fresh City is an award-winning urban farm and omni-channel retailer. Founder-led, we’re on a mission to provide a better life through food. More than one decade after we first began, our belief in that is even stronger. Every day, we deliver organic produce, chef-inspired and made from scratch prepared foods, bespoke meats and more to thousands of Greater Toronto Area families. In 2018, Fresh City acquired Mabel’s Bakery, a popular bakery in Toronto producing artisan breads and pastries, and shortly after acquired The Healthy Butcher, a pioneer in organic and 100% Grassfed beef, in 2019. In 2022, subscription-based organic produce and grocery delivery company Mama Earth Organics was added to the lineup of brands making Fresh City the largest organic online retailer in Ontario. With eight retail locations and home delivery across the GTA between our four brands, the Fresh City family of brands continues to bring farmers, makers and eaters together to deliver a food experience that respects our bodies, our planet, and our shared tomorrow. Food is our passion. We proudly employ over 500 employees across our four brands including our farm, our two warehouses, our food production facilities, our offices and our retail locations. We’re continuously advancing our culture of belonging, where everyone feels seen, heard, valued and free to be their authentic selves.