The Position:
Summit Search Group has been retained by Naleway Foods on the recruitment of their next Production Manager. Naleway Foods is a Winnipeg-based frozen food manufacturer specializing in high-quality perogies and co-packed products for major retail partners. With a strong reputation for consistency, food safety, and operational reliability, Naleway operates a collaborative, team-based plant environment where leaders work closely across functions. As the business continues to grow, driven by increased production demand and long-standing customer relationships, the organization is focused on developing its next generation of plant leadership through hands-on, internally grown talent.
The Production Manager is a high-impact leadership role focused on driving day-to-day production performance within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This position is deeply embedded in operations, requiring a strong presence on the production floor and close collaboration with quality, maintenance, sanitation, and logistics teams. Operating within a team-based leadership structure, the Production Manager contributes to shared decision-making while owning key areas such as production output, workforce coordination, and continuous improvement. This role is well suited for a hands-on leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and is motivated to build credibility, strengthen cross-functional capabilities, and expand their operational impact over time.
Responsibilities:
- Lead daily production operations, focusing on throughput, labour efficiency, waste reduction, and downtime management
- Maintain a strong, consistent presence on the production floor to support supervisors, troubleshoot issues, and drive real-time problem solving
- Collaborate closely with Quality Assurance, Maintenance, Scheduling, and Sanitation teams to ensure smooth and compliant operations
- Support hiring, training, and development of production staff within a unionized environment
- Build positive, credible working relationships with frontline employees and union representatives
- Monitor and improve production metrics, including yield tracking (labour and materials) and SOP adherence
- Contribute to cross-functional initiatives including food safety, health & safety, and continuous improvement efforts
- Participate actively in a collaborative leadership team, bringing forward ideas and contributing to shared decision-making
Qualifications:
- 3+ years of experience in production supervision or management within manufacturing (food industry preferred)
- Hands-on leadership style with a willingness to spend significant time on the production floor and learn equipment operations
- Exposure to unionized environments and basic labour relations practices is an asset
- Strong understanding of process discipline, quality standards, and operational efficiency metrics
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively in a team-based, non-hierarchical environment
For more information, or to submit your resume, please reach out to Cory Henkewich, Recruitment Operations Specialist, Summit Search Group, Cory.Henkewich@summitsearchgroup.com
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