Food Production Manager Jobs in Decatur, AL (NOW HIRING)

ProWood, a UFP Industries brand, is seeking a hands-on Production Manager for our Athens, Alabama facility.

This is a boots-on-the-ground operations leadership role for someone who knows how to lead from the floor while still owning the numbers. The Production Manager is responsible for managing manufacturing operations, developing supervisors and employees, driving safety and quality, improving production flow, and ensuring the plant meets cost, productivity, inventory, and performance goals.

We are looking for a practical, gritty, results-driven leader - someone who can walk the floor, understand the work, make decisions quickly, and hold teams accountable. This is not a desk-only management role. The right person will be visible, direct, steady under pressure, and comfortable leading in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Manage and coordinate plant manufacturing operations or multiple production departments.

• Lead daily production activity through supervisors, lead operators, and production teams.

• Stay actively engaged on the floor to support safety, quality, workflow, productivity, and employee accountability.

• Develop short- and long-range production plans, goals, and business objectives.

• Build and manage production schedules to meet customer needs, cost targets, inventory requirements, and productivity goals.

• Staff assigned operations appropriately to meet production levels while controlling labor cost.

• Ensure employees are properly trained, coached, developed, and held accountable.

• Coach and develop supervisors and lead operators, evaluate performance, and initiate corrective action when needed.

• Establish and monitor work center efficiency standards.

• Track performance against safety, quality, production, yield, scrap, and cost expectations.

• Identify workflow issues, production constraints, and improvement opportunities.

• Take corrective action when safety, quality, productivity, housekeeping, inventory, or performance standards are not being met.

• Ensure plant assets, materials, inventory, equipment, and finished goods are properly managed, protected, and accounted for.

• Manage inventory in assigned areas, including rotation, accuracy, and month-end inventory participation.

• Partner with maintenance to ensure machinery and equipment are properly maintained and production needs are supported.

• Monitor expenses and initiate corrective action when needed.

• Order supplies, initiate purchase orders, approve timecards, and manage incentives as required.

• Manage finished goods packaging as needed.

• Ensure yard conditions, housekeeping, and work areas meet company standards.

• Prepare production reports, logs, operational updates, and other required documentation.

• Participate in the Safety Committee process and reinforce safe work practices across assigned operations.

• Ensure operations are performed in accordance with company policies, OSHA requirements, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline preferred, or equivalent hands-on manufacturing leadership experience.

• Minimum of two years of experience as a Production Supervisor, Operations Supervisor, Production Manager, or equivalent manufacturing leadership role.

• Experience leading supervisors, lead operators, and production employees in a hands-on manufacturing environment.

• Experience in lumber, wood products, treating, building materials, industrial production, or similar manufacturing environment preferred.

• Strong floor presence and willingness to be actively engaged in the operation.

• Ability to lead in a fast-paced, physical production environment.

• Strong safety mindset and ability to drive safety standards through the team.

• Working knowledge of production flow, scheduling, labor planning, inventory control, efficiency standards, yield, scrap, and cost management.

• Ability to analyze production issues, identify root causes, and implement practical improvements.

• Strong communication, coaching, accountability, and follow-through skills.

• Ability to balance daily production urgency with long-term operational improvement.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.

• Preferred knowledge of UFP's organization, culture, systems, and product lines.

You will be successful in this role if you are a hands-on operations leader who earns respect by being present, consistent, and willing to get close to the work.

This role requires someone who can lead people, manage production pressure, and understand the business side of the operation. You need to be comfortable walking the floor, addressing issues directly, coaching supervisors, managing costs, improving workflow, and keeping the team focused on safety, quality, and results.

The right person is practical, gritty, accountable, and steady - someone who understands that strong production performance comes from trained employees, clear expectations, disciplined follow-through, and leadership that is visible every day.

ProWood is a trusted name in pressure-treated lumber and outdoor building products. As part of UFP Industries, ProWood offers the opportunity to lead within a large manufacturing organization while staying close to the work, the team, and the finished product.

If you are a hands-on manufacturing leader who likes being where the work happens and knows how to drive results through people, process, and accountability, this could be a strong next step.