Frozen Production Manager (m, w, x)

Position Title: Frozen Production Manager (m, w, x)
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Grade: Grade 06
Requisition ID: 37855
In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.
About the role.
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Frozen Production Manager to lead the frozen production function for our Greenfield Project in Germany. This role is accountable for establishing and executing all aspects of frozen production, from project inception and operational readiness through to full-scale plant operations.
Prior to start-up, you will play a key role in implementing operational practices, introducing new technologies and digital manufacturing capabilities, and building a high-performing team from the ground up. Following plant start-up, you will manage the frozen production area from potato peeling through finished product palletizing, with responsibility for safety, quality, sustainability, operational performance, and financial results.
Reporting to the Plant Manager / SuM Manager, you will collaborate closely with the SuM team, Engineering team, and regional and global support functions to deliver a world-class manufacturing operation.
What you'll be doing.

• Lead operational readiness activities to ensure a successful plant start-up and stabilization of production operations.
• Drive the implementation and adoption of new technologies, including MES, SCADA/HMI, PLC systems, robotics, and IoT/IIoT solutions.
• Lead design reviews with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring optimal outcomes for safety, food quality, sustainability, and material flow.
• Develop and execute operational readiness plans and best-practice systems modeled after established McCain facilities.
• Identify and mitigate operational, food safety, environmental, regulatory, and compliance risks.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, and development of production teams.
• Manage the frozen production area from potato peeling through finished product palletizing, delivering performance in safety, quality, service, cost, and productivity.
• Utilize Industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing tools to optimize scheduling, process performance, and operational reporting.
• Analyze production data, present performance insights, and drive root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across safety, quality, sustainability, operational efficiency, and cost performance.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, quality, environmental, and certification requirements, including HACCP, ISO 9001, and ISO 45001.
• Manage budgets, resource allocation, and operating costs to achieve financial targets.

What you'll need to be successful.

• Bachelor's degree in Production Processing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Food Science, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in food manufacturing or industrial production environments.
• Proven experience leading large-scale production, commissioning, deployment, or greenfield manufacturing projects.
• Strong knowledge of engineering principles, production systems, automation, and digital manufacturing technologies.
• Experience with MES, ERP, Power BI, IoT/IIoT platforms, robotics, and production automation solutions.
• Understanding of food manufacturing processes, preventive maintenance programs, and troubleshooting production challenges.
• Familiarity with food safety, quality, environmental, and occupational safety standards and regulations.
• Knowledge of HACCP, ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and applicable European manufacturing requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams through change, transformation, or organizational growth.
• Strong project management, planning, budgeting, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing skills across multiple levels of the organization.
• Fluent English language skills; German language proficiency is not required and can be developed after joining.

About the team.
You will be part of the Greenfield Project leadership team, working closely with the Plant Manager / SuM Manager, Engineering, regional support teams, and global functional experts. This role will have significant influence on establishing the future operating model of the plant and offers the opportunity to build and develop the frozen production organization from the ground up while shaping culture, capability, and operational excellence.
About McCain.
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership principles.
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
AI & Digital Capabilities.
At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture.
The McCain experience.
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.
Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We're big believers in the power of working together in person. It helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.
Additional Benefits

• Opportunity to join a global, iconic brand and a high-performing international team.
• Opportunity to play a key leadership role in a Greenfield Project in Germany.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Relocation support available where applicable.
• Local health and pension insurance benefits.
• Opportunity to help shape the future culture, systems, and ways of working within a new manufacturing facility.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applicable. You can understand how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Manufacturing; Engineering & Technical
Division: Continental Europe
Department: Plant and Start-up Greenfield
Location(s): DE - Germany : Lower Saxony : Hannover
Company: McCain GMBH