Production Manager
Colorado Juice Company
Location: Austin, Delta County, Colorado
Employment Type: Full-time/seasonally intensive
Compensation: $55,000 - $80,000 Commensurate with experience
Anticipated Start: ~April 15 th , 2026
About Colorado Juice Company
Colorado Juice Company is a small, growing, value-added fruit processing operation specializing in frozen fruit purees. Our work is closely integrated with regional growers and agricultural partners, with a strong emphasis on quality, traceability, and responsible food processing practices.
Our puree program operates seasonally, with peak production occurring during cherry, peach and pear harvest. Production of canned, bottled, and packaged goods continues throughout the year as does cold storage management, product development, and operational support.
Colorado Juice Company will open its expansive storage and processing spaces for other farmers and food companies to rent.
Position Overview
Colorado Juice Company is seeking a Production Manager to lead hands-on processing operations while overseeing day-to-day facility, equipment, and cold storage management. This role serves as the primary on-site operational lead, responsible for keeping production moving efficiently, safely, and in alignment with established compliance and food safety programs.
This position is both managerial and manual. The successful candidate will work on the production floor but also perform facility oversight, staffing, billing, maintenance, and R&D.
Key Responsibilities
Production & Processing Operations
- Lead all juice and fruit puree processing activities during the production season
- Schedule and execute daily production and manage processing flow
- Operate, maintain and oversee food processing equipment
- Monitor yields, losses, throughput, and efficiency (good inventory/record keeping)
- Ensure all activities follow approved SOPs and food safety requirements
- Troubleshoot and resolve operational issues in real time
- Coordinate lease agreements and take lead in executing CJC’s obligations in those agreements (e.g., moving equipment, scheduling access)
- Order packaging, ingredients, and supplies
- Occasional last mile delivery or local product transportation
Cold Storage & Inventory Management
- Manage and log inventory, including lot tracking and FIFO rotation
- Oversee cold storage organization and capacity planning
- Monitor and log freezer temperatures and respond to alarms or deviations
- Coordinate inventory pulls for R&D, sampling, fulfillment, and lessee needs
Facilities, Equipment & Maintenance
- Perform routine and light-to-moderate maintenance on processing equipment and facility systems
- Coordinate general maintenance of the Ice House facility
- Troubleshoot mechanical issues related to pumps, valves, belts, seals, wash systems, and freezers
- Maintain sanitation readiness and equipment cleanliness
- Coordinate contractors for major repairs, refrigeration, electrical, or specialized work
- Set up and taken down equipment according to seasonal needs and operational efficiency
Product Development & R&D Support
- Support development of new juice and puree products
- Conduct small-batch trials and off-season R&D runs
- Assist with texture, stability, and freeze-thaw evaluations
- Provide operational input on product feasibility and scale-up
Staffing & Floor Leadership
- Recruit and hire seasonal labor
- Train, supervise, and schedule seasonal production staff
- Set daily work plans and production priorities
- Enforce safety, sanitation, and operational standards
- Serve as the primary decision-maker during production shifts
Coordination & Communication
- Work closely with the Compliance Manager to implement regulatory and food safety programs
- Work closely with Sales Manager to provide production and inventory data as needed and ensure product availability/readiness for sales
- Communicate operational needs, constraints, and improvements to Management Team and Advisory Board
- Recruit lessees for storage and processing.
- Execute billing tasks for lessees.
- Represent CJC’s values and purpose to the community.
Work Schedule & Seasonality
- Peak Production Season (approximately 6 weeks):
50-65 hours per week, including extended shifts and occasional weekends
- Regular Season:
32-40 hours per week
Required Qualifications
- Some mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills; willingness to perform basic repairs and maintenance tasks
- Ability to lead production teams and work independently
- Ability to lift 50+ pounds and work long hours in cold or wet environments
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Modern computer skills (email, spreadsheets, online forms, cloud systems)
- Customer service skills
- Positive attitude, passion about our cause
- Basic knowledge of budgets
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in food or beverage processing (juice, puree, frozen products, fermentation, or similar)
- Hands-on experience operating food processing equipment
- Experience working in cold storage or freezer environments
- Experience in small- to mid-scale processing facilities
- Familiarity with sanitation systems and CIP procedures
- Working knowledge of lot tracking, traceability, and inventory control
- Forklift experience or willingness to obtain certification
- Experience in seasonal or agricultural production environments
- Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
- Experience with managerial software such as QuickBooks
Who This Role Is Best For
This role is ideal for someone who:
- Enjoys hands-on leadership and problem-solving
- Thrives in seasonal, high-intensity production environments
- Comfort with switching between management, manual labor, maintenance, and experimentation
- Values autonomy and ownership of operations
This role is
not suited for someone seeking a desk-only or strictly 9-to-5 position.
