Director of Production

Pete Pappas & Sons Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned business that specializes in growing, packing, shipping, and distributing premium produce. Established over 80 years ago, the company has built strong customer relationships and a reputation for excellent service.

The company was founded by Pete K. Pappas, who immigrated from Greece in 1901 and started selling produce from a pushcart. His son Gus joined in 1940, adding tomato repacking to their operations. Today, the company operates from a large warehouse in Jessup, Maryland, and has expanded its product range to include potatoes, onions, berries, and peppers, offering both conventional and organic options. They also co-own a 950-acre farm in Tennessee, growing various types of tomatoes.

Pete Pappas & Sons is committed to sustainability, implementing strategies to recycle, conserve energy, and reduce water usage. They aim to become a zero-waste facility and are members of several environmental programs.

The company is proud of its legacy and is looking for a Director of Production who values cultivating people and delivering an exceptional customer experience. The right individual will be a team builder and have a leadership mindset.

Position Overview:

The Director of Production is responsible for leading operations, ensuring quality and integrity, and achieving people and production objectives. This role involves developing and managing processes that will maximize efficiency, food and human safety, teamwork, product quality, and productivity to meet our customer service goals. The role also requires fostering a disciplined organization that adheres to high standards of performance and accountability.

Primary Responsibilities:

· Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement long-term production strategies to enhance operational efficiency and achieve business growth objectives.

· Team Leadership: Lead and mentor the production team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, high performance, and discipline.

· Inventory Management: Oversee inventory management, including rotation, proper lot selections, and minimizing waste.

· Compliance and Safety: Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards, prioritizing food and human safety.

· Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, such as warehouse, sales/purchasing, accounting, and transportation, to align production goals with overall company objectives.

· Budget Management: Oversee the annual budgeting process and conduct monthly evaluations of actual performance against budget.

· Operational Oversight: Plan, organize, and direct day-to-day produce packaging operations of a 7-day-a-week, multi-shift Production Department to exceed customer expectations.

· Policy Administration: Participate in formulating and administering company policies, directing, and coordinating all divisional department activities.

· Efficiency Optimization: Continuously evaluate and improve production processes to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and lower operational costs.

• Reporting and Presenting: Regularly report and present comprehensive updates on production progress, challenges, solutions, performance metrics, and strategic recommendations to the executive team.

· Discipline and Accountability: Promote a disciplined work environment by setting high standards of performance and ensuring accountability across the production team.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

· Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.

· Experience: Minimum of 10 years of experience in fresh produce production management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

· Technical Skills: Proficiency in production management software and tools. Strong understanding of industry regulations and standards.

· Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead and motivate a team, with a focus on fostering a culture of discipline and high performance.

· Analytical Skills: Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Ability to analyze data and metrics to drive continuous improvement.

· Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams.

· Organizational Skills: Strong organizational and time management skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

· Attention to Detail: High level of attention to detail and accuracy in all aspects of work.

· Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing business needs and work in a fast-paced environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Employee is frequently required to: use hands/fingers, to handle or touch objects, tools or controls; to verbally communicate; and to hear. The employee is frequently required to walk and stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move product up to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, the ability to discern colors and the ability to adjust focus. Working conditions are normal for an office and refrigerated warehouse environment. Protective equipment, such as, hair net, safety vest and food safety related items, is required.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $85,796.00 - $96,119.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) 4% Match
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• Day shift
• Every weekend
• Monday to Friday

Supplemental Pay:

• Bonus opportunities
• Signing bonus

Experience:

• fresh produce: 10 years (Required)
• Business Leadership: 5 years (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Jessup, MD 20794: Relocate with an employer provided relocation package (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $85,796 - $96,119