Production Manager
Arla Foods Canada – Atwood, Ontario
Recruiting partner: Dairy Jobs
Dairy Jobs is working closely with Arla Foods to recruit an experienced Production Manager for Arla’s dairy facility in Atwood, Ontario.
Important application instructions
All applications must be submitted via the dairyjobsearch.com website.
Applications sent directly to Arla, hiring managers, plant personnel, or by any route other than dairyjobsearch.com will not be considered.
Applicants must already be legally authorized to work in Canada at the time of application.
No employer sponsorship, work permit support, or immigration assistance is available for this role.
Candidates already based in Canada, ideally in Ontario or able to relocate quickly, will be strongly preferred.
Minimum essential requirements – please do not apply unless you meet all of the following:
Currently legally authorized to work in Canada
Currently based in Canada or able to relocate to Atwood, Ontario quickly
Minimum 2 years’ leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
Minimum 2 years’ experience in dairy or food production
Able to work on site in Atwood, Ontario
About Arla
Arla is a farmer-owned global dairy company with products enjoyed in more than 100 countries. In Canada, Arla is known for brands such as Tre Stelle and Castello. Arla is committed to quality, food safety, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.
The opportunity
This is a key site leadership role responsible for managing plant production and packaging operations at Arla’s Atwood facility, with a focus on safe, efficient, high-quality manufacture of blue and gorgonzola cheese products.
Reporting to the Site Director, the Production Manager will lead production teams, improve plant performance, drive continuous improvement, and ensure full compliance with food safety, quality, and EHS standards.
Key responsibilities
Lead all plant processing and packaging activities to ensure safe, high-quality production aligned with Arla standards
Manage daily operations across production and packaging, ensuring performance against safety, quality, cost, service, and yield targets
Analyse and report on yields, component usage, recipe conformance, losses, and cost performance
Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and production teams, including performance management and formal reviews
Set departmental KPIs and execute plans aligned with plant and business objectives
Identify deviations, implement corrective actions, and drive sustainable improvement
Ensure compliance with HACCP, SQF, CFIA, EHS, and internal Arla requirements
Maintain strong shop-floor discipline around SOPs, documentation, hygiene, food safety, and quality systems
Support budget control, labour planning, resource allocation, and cost improvement
Lead continuous improvement and LEAN initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce waste
Support maintenance planning, capital projects, equipment upgrades, and business continuity readiness
Build effective working relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies
Candidate profile
This role will suit a hands-on dairy manufacturing leader who combines people leadership with strong operational discipline.
You will bring:
Proven experience in a dairy or food manufacturing environment
Proven leadership experience managing teams in production, operations, or manufacturing
Strong understanding of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance
Experience improving KPI performance in areas such as yield, waste, efficiency, labour, quality, and safety
Strong coaching, communication, and decision-making skills
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing setting
High integrity, accountability, and practical problem-solving ability
Preferred experience
Strong preference will be given to candidates with:
Direct experience in dairy manufacturing
Experience in cheese production, ideally mould-ripened, blue, specialty, or cultured cheese environments
Experience with SQF, HACCP, CFIA, and manufacturing continuous improvement systems
Post-secondary education in Dairy Technology, Food Science, Engineering, Operations, or a related field
Compensation
Salary range: CAD $110,000 – $115,000
Equal opportunity
Arla Foods is committed to equal opportunity and fair treatment in employment. Accommodation is available for candidates participating in the recruitment process.
How to apply
To be considered, please apply only through dairyjobsearch.com and submit:
Your CV / résumé
A short cover note confirming:your current location
your legal right to work in Canada
your dairy manufacturing experience
your leadership experience
your notice period / availability
Arla has appointed Dairy Jobs as the designated recruitment channel for this vacancy. Applications or approaches made outside the dairyjobsearch.com process will not be considered part of the formal selection process.
Only applicants whose background clearly matches the requirements of the role will be contacted.
While we appreciate all applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada.
Shape the Future of Dairy
Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.