Food Production Manager – Nuts & Dried Fruit Processing

Job Description

Dima operates in the food industry and specializes in the design and production of corporate food gifts. As part of our plans to expand production capacity and strengthen our operational structure, we are seeking an experienced, hands-on, and results-driven Food Production Manager.
The successful candidate will oversee and be accountable for the end-to-end production process—from raw material selection and procurement planning to processing, packaging, quality control, warehousing, and on-time order fulfillment.
This role requires strong expertise in production and supply planning, as well as the ability to manage approximately 60 direct employees during regular operations and organize and lead a workforce of up to 250 employees during peak production periods.
Production normally operates on a single-shift basis; however, the Production Manager must be capable of designing and managing multi-shift operations during peak seasons.
Key Responsibilities
Design, integrate, manage, and continuously improve production processes across preparation, processing, roasting, seasoning, packaging, quality control, warehousing, and dispatch
Develop daily, weekly, and monthly production plans based on sales orders, production capacity, available inventory, and delivery deadlines
Prioritize orders, plan production capacity, and prepare employee schedules and shift plans
Plan raw material, nuts, dried fruit, and packaging requirements to prevent production delays or stoppages
Monitor raw material and finished-goods inventory and maintain close coordination among Production, Sales, Procurement, Warehouse, Quality Control, and Dispatch
Lead and evaluate approximately 50 production employees during regular operations and scale the workforce to as many as 200 employees during peak periods
Work with HR on production recruitment, onboarding, workforce allocation, training, performance improvement, and team discipline
Set short-, medium-, and long-term production goals and define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs)
Monitor productivity, capacity utilization, waste, rework, downtime, production costs, and deviations from plan
Estimate production budgets and resource requirements while improving output, efficiency, and cost performance
Oversee the selection, inspection, processing, packaging, storage, and preservation of raw materials and finished products
Ensure that raw materials, production processes, and finished products undergo appropriate quality-control testing through internal or accredited external laboratories
Ensure full compliance with GMP, food safety, occupational safety, hygiene, storage, handling, and transportation requirements
Maintain strict hygiene standards across production halls, preparation areas, equipment, ventilation systems, warehouses, freezers, and drying areas
Keep the facility inspection-ready at all times, including for scheduled and unannounced regulatory inspections
Ensure the proper operation of production machinery, implementation of preventive maintenance schedules, and timely repair of damaged or malfunctioning equipment
Identify and manage operational risks and crises, including material shortages, equipment failures, workforce absences, changing order priorities, and sudden increases in production volume
Ensure that transportation and delivery conditions protect product safety and quality throughout the distribution process
Analyze customer feedback and data from Sales, Marketing, and Customer Support to improve existing products and support new product development
Document production processes and develop operating procedures, checklists, reporting systems, and operational controls
Provide regular management reports on production output, inventory, productivity, waste, costs, deviations, risks, and order status
Required Experience and Technical Expertise
At least five years of production management experience in the food industry
Proven and verifiable experience in the production, processing, and packaging of nuts and dried fruit
Experience managing a production workforce of at least 50 employees, with the ability to scale and control operations involving up to 200 employees
Strong command of production planning, capacity planning, order prioritization, shift scheduling, and supply timing
Sound knowledge of Iranian Food and Drug Administration regulations covering food production, hygiene, safety, raw materials, additives, labeling, packaging, and product storage
Familiarity with applicable environmental and commercial regulations in the food manufacturing industry
Strong knowledge of GMP, food safety, quality-control systems, and regulatory inspection requirements
Technical knowledge of raw material selection, processing methods, packaging, warehousing, and finished-product preservation
Practical familiarity with food and nut-processing machinery, equipment settings, preventive maintenance, and basic troubleshooting
Ability to analyze production costs, prepare budgets, control cost of goods manufactured, and assess the financial impact of operational decisions
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with production-planning, inventory-management, ERP, or similar operational systems is preferred
Key Competencies
Proven leadership capability in large, fast-paced production environments
Strong risk identification, crisis management, and decision-making skills
Effective goal-setting, planning, time management, and forward thinking
Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions under pressure
Strong analytical thinking, critical thinking, problem-solving, and data-analysis skills
High attention to detail and strict commitment to regulatory, quality, safety, and hygiene standards
Strong communication skills when working with employees, supervisors, managers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams
Accountability and persistence in following matters through to measurable completion
Familiarity with technical English or specialized production software is an advantage
Education
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree, preferably in one of the following fields:
Food Science or Food Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Industrial Management
Other production-related disciplines
Location and Working Conditions
Location: Tehran and Greater Tehran area
Employment type: Full-time, on-site
Regular operations: Single shift
Peak production periods: Availability to manage multi-shift operations and a workforce of up to 200 employees
Benefits
Competitive compensation package
Performance-based bonuses
Statutory social security insurance
Company-provided lunch
Seasonal and occasion-based employee gift packages
Professional training and development
Career advancement opportunities
Professional, healthy, and dynamic work environment
How to Apply
Please submit your CV together with the following information:
Expected salary
Earliest available start date
Current area of residence
Largest number of employees you have directly or indirectly managed
Types and production capacities of the manufacturing lines you have managed
A brief description of your experience in nuts and dried fruit production and processing