Production Manager, Pellet Mill

Thank you for your interest in joining W.C. Bradley Co.! We're excited you're here. Our application system is intuitive and easy to use, and we look forward to learning more about you as you complete your profile and submit your application. Good luck, and thank you again for applying! Job Summary The Production Manager provides strategic and day-to-day leadership of all production operations at the Outdoor Brands BBQ pellet facility in Hope, AR. This role is responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient, and consistent manufacture of high-quality BBQ wood pellets that meet brand and customer specifications. The Production Manager leads production planning, labor management, throughput performance, and adherence to process standards across all production lines. The ideal candidate is a strong people leader who thrives in a fast-paced, continuous manufacturing environment. This individual balances daily operational performance with long-term improvements that enhance productivity, reduce waste, and strengthen team capability. Duties and Responsibilities Leadership & Organizational Management * Lead, coach, and develop a results-driven production team across multiple shifts, including Supervisors, Leads, and hourly operators.* Build a culture of safety, accountability, and teamwork aligned with Outdoor Brands values.* Partner closely with Maintenance, Engineering, EH&S, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure smooth and reliable plant operations.* Manage staffing levels, training programs, schedule planning, and performance reviews to ensure operational readiness.* Establish and track department KPIs related to throughput, yield, scrap, and labor efficiency. Production Planning & Execution * Oversee day-to-day production operations across pelletizing, grinding, drying, conveying, and packaging processes.* Ensure production meets daily, weekly, and monthly volume targets while maintaining quality and safety standards.* Monitor process parameters and operator performance to maintain stable, repeatable production conditions.* Coordinate with Supply Chain to align production schedules with inventory and customer demand requirements.* Optimize shift structures, machine utilization, and process flow to minimize downtime and bottlenecks. Quality, Safety & Compliance * Champion a "Safety First" mindset and enforce compliance with OSHA, NFPA, combustible dust handling standards, and site EH&SS policies.* Ensure adherence to quality specifications for moisture content, pellet density, sizing, and packaging integrity.* Investigate operational incidents, quality issues, or non-conformances and implement corrective actions.* Maintain operational documentation, standard work procedures, and training records. Continuous Improvement & Performance Optimization * Identify and lead improvements that reduce waste, increase throughput, and stabilize production variability.* Collaborate with engineering and maintenance to prioritize reliability issues impacting production performance.* Support capital projects including new equipment upgrades, process changes, and automation improvements.* Promote disciplined use of lean tools such as 5S, root cause analysis, visual management, and standard work.* Drive performance metrics including: - Throughput per hour - First-pass yield / scrap rate - Labor utilization - Cost per ton produced Qualification Requirements Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.* 5+ years of production leadership experience in manufacturing, ideally continuous processing or bulk material operations.* Experience working with pelletizing, feed, wood processing, or similar process i