COMPANY INTRODUCTION

Manzana Products Co. has been in business for over 100 years and is a leading producer of organic apple juice, apple sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Manzana is owned by Agrial, a prominent French co-op of 12,000 farmer members and a force in agriculture and food production.

Manzana’s mission is to create quality apple products by placing the highest value on people, suppliers, customers, and continuous improvement in manufacturing capabilities, with social and environmental responsibility at the heart of our actions.

We are in the process of relocating our manufacturing facility from Sebastopol, CA to Sunnyside, WA. While the facility is essential, we believe that building a strong, dedicated team is the key to success. At Manzana, we work each day to foster a culture focused on food safety, employee health and safety, customer service, continuous improvement, and an inclusive, respectful environment where all team members’ contributions are valued, and feedback is encouraged.

At Manzana, all employees are required to actively participate in our comprehensive Food Safety Program to ensure the consistent production of the highest quality and safest food products. This commitment is essential to maintaining our standards and protecting our customers.

Join us as we grow and make a difference together

Job Summary:

Production Line Supervisor & Training Specialist supports successful commissioning and ramp-up of new production lines by bridging technical, operational, and training needs. Ensure production readiness through hands-on involvement in trials, development of robust operating standards, and capability building of production teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Commissioning & Start-Up Support

o Actively participate in equipment installation, commissioning, site acceptance testing

(SAT) and factory acceptance testing(FAT) (as applicable), and trial runs.

o Support initial line start-up, troubleshooting, and stabilization activities.

o Identify process gaps, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities during trials.

• Operational Excellence & Feedback

o Provide structured feedback on equipment usability, ergonomics, maintainability, and

safety.

o Work closely with Engineering and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to

optimize line performance and operator interface.

o Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives during ramp-up.

• Standardization (Standard Operating Procedures & Work Instructions)

o Develop, document, and validate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Work

Instructions.

o Ensure documentation reflects best practices, safety requirements, and actual operating

conditions.

o Support revision cycles based on trial learnings and post-start-up improvements.

• Training & Capability Building

o Train, coach, and mentor Operators on new equipment, processes, and standards.

o Act as a “train-the-trainer” resource to build internal training capabilities.

o Provide hands on training and validate skills to ensure Operators demonstrate

competency before independent equipment operation.

• Quality, Safety & Compliance

o Ensure strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), HACCP, food safety,

and workplace safety standards.

o Collaborate with Quality Assurance (GA) to establish and execute in-process controls

and quality checks.

o Promote a strong safety culture during high-risk commissioning phases.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

o Work closely with Engineering, QA, Maintenance, and Production teams.

o Act as a key link between project teams and operations during the transition to full

production.

o Support handover from project phase to steady-state manufacturing.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience as a production operator, senior operator, or line lead in the food or beverage industry.
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience training others.
• Experience writing work related communication is required. SOP or technical writing is a plus!
• Proven experience with equipment start-ups, commissioning phases, or new product/line introductions is a strong advantage but not required.
• Strong computer skills with Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Skills:

• Strong hands-on knowledge of processing, filling, and/or packaging equipment.
• Solid understanding of GMP, HACCP, and food safety systems.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documents, SOPs, and equipment manuals.
• Demonstrated ability to train, coach, and influence peers.
• Strong problem-solving mindset with a practical, hands-on approach.
• High adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, ambiguous start-up environments.
• Effective written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work collaboratively across all functions and levels of the organization.
• Ability to write clear and concise SOPs.
• Ability to train Operators and validate that they are ready for autonomous operation.
• Ability to identify and work to resolve operational and ergonomic issues.
• Strong understanding of and compliance with safety and food quality standards from day one.
• Strong organizational skills.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to manufacturing and construction environment.

• Exposure to hot and cool temperatures.

• Exposure to noise.

• Exposure to stationery and moving equipment.

• Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment is required.

Additionally, Manzana offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• Healthcare benefits:

o Medical, dental and vision with 100% of the monthly premiums for the Employee paid

by Manzana.

o Manzana offers a generous contribution towards the monthly healthcare premiums for

eligible dependents.

o Team Members are eligible to enroll the first of the month after 30 days of employment.

• Life AD&D Insurance (when enrolled in medical insurance)

• 401(k) with a company match of up to 6% of the employee’s contribution.

• Paid vacation

• Paid sick leave

• Paid holidays: 9 per year

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)