Red Truck Orchards
is hiring!
view job description pdfCurrently hiring: Production Manager
JOB TITLE: Production Manager
LOCATION: Red Truck Orchards Production Facility; 8233 N Matheson Rd, Northport, MI
REPORTS TO: Director of Operations
POSITION TYPE: Full Time, Salarie
ANTICIPATED START DATE: October 1, 2025
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Sunday, September 14, 2025
UPDATED: August 21, 2025 by Director of Operations
ABOUT RED TRUCK ORCHARDS
At Red Truck Orchards, our purpose is to strengthen and support our community of local cherry growers: our family, our neighbors, and our friends. Our farm thrives on the collaboration of local growers, bringing innovation and exceptional products to the market.
As a family-owned company, Red Truck Orchards thrives via collaboration with our community of small farms. Each bottle of our cherry vinegar represents our commitment to land stewardship, exceptional quality, and securing the future of cherry farming in Leelanau and Grand Traverse with innovative new products.
Our passion is preservation, and our small team drives big impacts. We’re looking for a Production Manager to help us grow our productivity and deliver on our mission.
summary of responsibilities
As Production Manager, you'll steer the daily operations of our facility, managing hands-on processes from fermentation to shipping. You'll ensure precision, safety, and quality across every touchpoint while fostering a collaborative, clean, and “always tour ready” workspace.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading fermentation and fluid transfer operations
Executing bottling workflows: rinsing, filling, labeling, sealing, and palletizing
Managing inventory of raw ingredients and finished goods
Overseeing warehousing, order fulfillment, and shipping
Implementing cleaning protocols and SSOP compliance
Conducting quality control and laboratory analysis
Creating and managing daily production schedules
Tracking KPIs and generating performance reports
Performing preventative maintenance and equipment inspection
Managing critical spares inventories
Representing the company positively when interacting with visitors
Maintaining safety, cleanliness, and regulatory compliance
Adapting flexibly to support additional tasks as needed; this is a working orchard, after all!
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
You’re proactive, detail-oriented, and ready to take ownership in a dynamic food manufacturing environment. You have technical prowess, grit, and grace under pressure.
We’d love to see:
3+ years of experience in food or beverage production
Proven ability to lead manufacturing teams or manage complex manufacturing projects
Familiarity with GMP, LO/TO, PPE, and safety protocols
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
Strong attention to detail, organization, and communication
Professionalism and tact with proprietary information and IP
Self-motivated with a positive and proactive mindset
Ability to lift up to 55 lbs and work in a physically active setting
Flexible scheduling to meet production demands
EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS USED:
Pumps, hoses, tanks, valves, and fittings
Bottling, labeling, and sealing equipment
Pallet trucks, trailers, and warehouse stackers
Compressed gas and glycol-based refrigeration systems
Cleaning chemicals, lubricants, and materials handling tools
Safety systems including oxygen monitors, fall restraint, and personal protective equipment.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:
Ability to frequently sit, stand, walk, and use hands to handle objects, tools, or controls.
Ability to talk, hear, and smell.
Ability to frequently lift and/or move up to 55 lbs.
Ability to occasionally reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and climb.
Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:
The work environment is usually that of a food processing, packaging, and shipping facility.
The employee frequently works in a sanitary environment.
The noise level in certain parts of the facility is occasionally loud.
The employee regularly works around high voltage, hot water, broken glass, sharps, and asphyxiant gasses.
The employee regularly works on wet floors and with wet equipment.
The employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts.
The employee regularly works with hazardous materials, including industrial cleaning and sanitizing chemicals.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Salary: $56,000 - $72,000 / year
Two weeks paid vacation
Paid sick time
Paid time off from Christmas through New Years Day, Thanksgiving & Thanksgiving Friday, Labor Day, Memorial Day, and 4th of July
TO APPLY
Be part of our small farm with a big mission!
Please email resume, cover letter, references, etc. to ATTN: Sam Reese at