Ice Cream Production Manager

Job Summary:

Provide strong leadership and direction for the production operations under my accountability. Deliver key performance targets, including safety, quality, productivity, volume, cost, sustainability, and organizational morale. Ensure the effective implementation of KDD’s manufacturing strategy while fostering a high-performance organization

Support all manufacturing standards, governance, and compliance requirements, including but not limited to corporate quality, food safety and GMP, health and safety, security, environmental sustainability, code of conduct, operational policies, local legal requirements, and internal audit norms. Ensure these standards are clearly understood, regularly reviewed, and effectively implemented across operation

Lead with a data-driven approach, transforming people and processes to shape the future of dairy manufacturing

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Achieve operational performance targets (e.g., safety, OEE, yield loss, product quality, on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, transactional accuracy), proactively identifying and addressing trends that could impact performance.
• Drive operational improvements necessary to achieve the annual operating plan, ensuring cost efficiency, workforce and equipment optimization, and timely production within budget.
• Develop employees through upskilling and reskilling programs, defining and managing training needs within the department.
• Embed lean methodologies across the entire manufacturing value chain.
• Optimize plant operations to maintain a leadership position in the industry and stay updated with latest manufacturing trends.
• Manage staffing levels, conduct transparent performance evaluations, oversee employee disciplinary actions when required, and recognize outstanding performance.
• Foster a digitally adept workforce to enhance productivity through technological advancements.
• Ensure the plant and equipment always remain “audit-ready”—clean, well-maintained, and in optimal condition.
• Adhere to company policies, departmental procedures, and health, safety, and environmental regulations set by KDD and the State of Kuwait.
• Establish and drive a performance control management system on the shop floor.
• Identify improvement opportunities and propose capital projects with clear justifications.
• Execute top management directives as needed.
• Deliver high-quality frozen desserts and bakery products, leveraging expertise in ice cream and other frozen desse rts.

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Science & Technology, Food Technology, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Dairy Science & Technology, Food Technology, or a related field.
• Pref erred: MBA, Lean Six Sigma, or Lean Practitioner certific ation.

Required Professional Skills:

• Dairy Industry Ex pertise: Extensive experience in the dairy sector, parti cularly ice cream pro duction. Must have held a managerial role such as Plant Manager (small facil ity) or Production Manager (large-scale fa cility).
• Technical Prof iciency: Strong com mand of MS Offi ce, E RP, and MES systems to o ptimize operations and productivity.
• Leadership Exp erience: A seasoned profession al with significant leadership ex perience in the food and beverage i ndustry, demons trating strategic management and operational exc ellence.