The IRCA Group is an International Leader in high quality finished and semi-finished ingredients for the bakery, pastry, and ice cream markets. With a solid history of over 100 years in the industry, the Group has its headquarters in Italy (Gallarate) and a strong global footprint with 23 production sites and over 2,000 employees in Europe, the United States, and Vietnam.
Our core product categories include chocolate, compounds, chocolate decorations, sprinkles, creams, pastry mixes, gelato ingredients, nuts, and candied fruit. The most recent acquisition of Kerry Sweet complements our existing categories with the addition of sweet particulates, chocolate confections, inclusions, variegates, and frozen fruit purees.
Through its 8 key brands (IRCA, Dobla®, in2food, Via Degli Orsini, JoyGelato, RaviFruit, Cesarin, and Anastasi®), the IRCA Group offers an unparalleled "one-stop shop" approach for delivering quality solutions to all ingredients needs, through a broad range of innovative products. We offer everyday & seasonal solutions to 3 macro channels: Gourmet, Food Manufacturing, and Consumer Product (Retail). “Extraordinary made simple.”
We are looking for a Production Manager responsible for overseeing all manufacturing operations to ensure safety, quality, food safety, efficiency, and operational performance goals are consistently achieved. This role leads production teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while driving continuous improvement initiatives, optimizing labor and equipment utilization, and fostering a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
The Production Manager partners closely with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, and HR teams to ensure efficient production flow, product quality, employee engagement, and compliance with all company and regulatory standards.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Oversees food production of a 24 hour / 3 shift operation.
- Ensure a safe working environment, strive for world class safety standards.
- Ownership in the production of safe, quality food and program compliance.
- Efficiently execute the production schedule to meet customer needs.
- Establishes and promotes Performance Management initiatives; Establishes KPIs to manage processes & offers expertise in development of any new process manufacturing KPIs.
- Leverages process and organizational knowledge to support business goals.
- Builds relationship within Irca Group organization to optimize available resources.
- Develop and maintain efficient SOPs in collaboration with department leaders.
- Develop and maintain qualified personnel within the production department, both Supervision and Operators.
- Communicate and enforce regulatory & Irca Group standards within the plant.
- Drive operational efficiency initiatives and a continuous improvement mindset.
- Manage the plant production department within budget.
- Promote a positive working environment.
- Develop a data and process driven department with a sense of urgency.
Education & Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
- 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience required; food manufacturing experience preferred.
- Proven experience managing production teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, food safety, GMPs, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence experience preferred.
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
- Proven ability to drive results, improve operational performance, and lead change.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Computer proficiency required.
- Ability to adapt and lead effectively in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
- Bilingual in Spanish a plus
Other Requirements:
- Demonstrates being both trustworthy and trusting, champions the values of the organization and challenges unacceptable behaviors; Leads by example; Shares knowledge and recognizes success.
- Develops strategies for growth, acts with courage, & communicates a clear vision for the future of Irca Group.
- Demonstrates an ability to identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives and change management
- Invests time in people development for optimum performance, creating high performing teams, empowers others to be successful.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field preferred
- 7+ years of manufacturing leadership experience required; food manufacturing experience preferred
- Proven experience managing production teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, food safety, GMPs, and continuous improvement methodologies
- Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence experience preferred
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Bilingual in Spanish a plus
What We Do
Founded in 1919, IRCA Group is a global leader in the production of high-quality ingredient solutions for the pastry, bakery, chocolate, and gelato markets. Serving both artisans and industrial food manufacturers in over 100 countries, the company combines Italian heritage with innovation to provide a comprehensive portfolio of products, including creams, fruit preparations, and inclusions, helping professionals create extraordinary culinary experiences with simple, reliable, and scalable solutions.
