Operations Supervisor (Food Production)

Career Guide
Supervises daily food manufacturing operations to meet safety, quality, and output targets. Oversees shift staffing, enforces HACCP and GMP standards, troubleshoots line issues, tracks performance metrics, and coordinates with maintenance, quality, and supply chain.

Key Responsibilities

  • Supervise daily production line operations and staffing
  • Enforce HACCP, GMP, and sanitation procedures
  • Plan schedules, line changeovers, and labor allocation
  • Monitor OEE, scrap, rework, and downtime; report results
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions
  • Coordinate equipment repairs with maintenance
  • Train, coach, and evaluate operators and line leads
  • Maintain inventory accuracy for raw and packaging materials

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Production Manager
Operations Manager
Plant Manager
Continuous Improvement Manager
Transition Opportunities
Quality Assurance Supervisor
EHS Specialist
Supply Chain/Logistics Manager
Maintenance Planner/Scheduler

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
HACCP/GMP compliance in manufacturingOEE and throughput optimizationERP/MES systems (SAP, Plex)Root cause analysis and CAPAFSMA/traceability documentation
Development SuggestionsComplete HACCP training and a Lean/Six Sigma course; lead a small Kaizen on your line and build an OEE dashboard using sample data or an ERP/MES sandbox.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry Level$50,000-$60,000
Mid Level$62,000-$78,000
Senior Level$80,000-$95,000
Growth Trend
stable — Steady food demand; automation limits net new supervisory roles.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
Tyson FoodsPepsiCoNestlé USA
Industry Sectors
Food & Beverage ManufacturingConsumer Packaged GoodsAgribusiness & Food Processing

Recommended Next Steps

1
Earn HACCP certification and OSHA 10; add Lean Six Sigma Green Belt to demonstrate CI capability.
2
Take an applied ERP/MES course (e.g., SAP PP or Plex); produce a mock production and downtime report.
3
Run a data-driven root cause project on a recurring defect or downtime issue and document CAPA; present to plant leadership.