Job Description

: Production Manager, Central Kitchen

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Position Overview

The

Production Manager

oversees all production activities within the Central Kitchen (CK), ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality products across the pastry, decor, and bread departments. This role requires a strong operational leader who combines technical expertise with people management skills to drive efficiency, maintain standards, and support business growth.


Reporting directly to the CEO, the Production Manager works closely with the

R&D Pastry Lead

,

CK Operations Team

, and

Sales Team

to coordinate new product launches, manage daily production output, uphold hygiene and licensing standards, and ensure that all production-related KPIs are achieved.

Key Responsibilities

#

1. Product Development & Implementation

Collaborate with the

CEO

and

R&D Pastry Development Lead

to oversee the introduction of new products from concept to production. Ensure all

SOPs

,

recipe documentation

, and

workflow adjustments

are accurately implemented and communicated to the team. Review production capacities and adjust schedules, storage, or resourcing as needed to accommodate new products or campaigns. Support training sessions for new launches to ensure smooth integration into daily production.
#

2. Team Leadership & Development

Lead and manage the

Pastry Production

,

Pastry Decor

, and

Bread Teams

, ensuring clear communication and accountability across all sections. Provide training and coaching to all production staff to maintain consistency and quality standards. Identify skills gaps and develop on-the-job learning and mentorship opportunities for junior staff to support long-term retention and growth. Support HR in recruitment, onboarding, and appraisal processes for production team members. Manage day-to-day HR administration (attendance, timesheets, leave approvals) for production staff in accordance with company policy.
#

3. Production Planning & Operations

Work closely with section heads to plan production efficiently, ensuring that daily, weekly, and seasonal requirements are met, working alongside the team in production line from time to time. Monitor daily orders (both for internal store supply and our consumer packaged goods range, PV Foods) to ensure all items are completed to quality and packaging standards within deadlines. Oversee resource allocation (equipment, staff, materials) to balance workload and reduce bottlenecks. Ensure production team members adhere to workflow schedules and maintain accuracy across all product categories.
#

4. Quality Control, Hygiene & Compliance

Implement and maintain

quality control systems

and hygiene standards in compliance with SFA regulations and company policies. Ensure production processes and outputs meet established product specifications. Work with section heads to investigate and resolve any

QC issues

swiftly, preventing recurrence. Oversee

license and audit requirements

for the CK in collaboration with the CK Operations Team. Maintain updated documentation for hygiene audits, temperature logs, and equipment maintenance records.
#

5. Financial Management & Cost Control

Achieve production-related financial KPIs, including

COGS

,

manpower efficiency

, and

wastage reduction

. Implement measures to minimise overproduction and overtime costs. Analyse material usage, yield, and inventory levels to identify inefficiencies and cost-saving opportunities. Work with the procurement team to optimise raw material ordering based on production forecasts.
#

6. Cross-Departmental Collaboration

Partner with the

CK Operations Team

to ensure customer and store orders are fulfilled accurately and on schedule. Work with the

Sales Team

to support B2B inquiries, optimise production scheduling for large orders, and identify capacity to accommodate additional sales opportunities. Communicate clearly with internal stakeholders to maintain transparency on production constraints, capacity, and output status.
#

7. Reporting & Continuous Improvement

Generate and analyse weekly and monthly production reports to track productivity, wastage, and efficiency. Proactively recommend and implement process improvements, including new tools, equipment, or workflow designs. Lead troubleshooting efforts to address recurring operational pain points, promoting data-backed solutions for long-term improvement.

Qualifications & Skills

Diploma or Degree in

Culinary Arts, Food Technology, Operations Management, or Business Administration

(or equivalent). Minimum

5-8 years of experience

in pastry, bakery, or food production management, preferably in a central kitchen setting. Proven experience managing multi-section production teams. Strong technical knowledge of baking, pastry, or bread production. Demonstrated skills in production planning, cost control, and staff training. Knowledge of hygiene standards and food safety certifications (e.g. WSQ, HACCP). Proficient in Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides) or equivalent tools for documentation and reporting. Hands-on, detail-oriented, and comfortable in a fast-paced environment.

Performance KPIs

Production output accuracy vs. forecast Achievement of cost and wastage reduction targets Product quality consistency (QC pass rate) Team productivity and retention rate Audit and hygiene compliance scores

Plain Vanilla Bakery it started out with a simple, earnest ambition to create and share some good old-fashioned cake with our local community; cake that was made with real wholesome ingredients, and was familiar and comforting. In a world of mass-produced confections, we wanted to go back to basics and bake like our mums and grandmothers used to - moist red velvet cupcakes topped with vanilla buttercream, apple pound cake drizzled with caramel, decadent chocolate brownies, warm and fudgey on the inside. The kind of scents, flavours, and textures that make us nostalgic for days gone by.


Pay: $4000.00 - $6000.00 / month


Job Type: fulltime


Education: Bachelor's degree


Work location: On-site