Production & Fulfillment Operations Manager in Charlotte, North Carolina at Plat Du Jour Inc

About Plat du Jour (PDJ)

Plat du Jour (PDJ) is a precision meal platform producing high-quality, ready-to-eat meals and components at scale. PDJ operates at the intersection of culinary excellence and operational discipline, combining chef-driven food with the consistency, structure, and efficiency of a food manufacturing environment. Getting the right product produced correctly, packaged precisely, and delivered on time — for both PDJ's own branded customers and our co-manufacturing partners — is mission-critical. This role owns that entire operational chain.

Position Overview

PDJ is seeking an experienced, hands-on Production & Fulfillment Operations Manager to lead and unify the production operations and fulfillment functions of the facility. This is a dual-scope leadership role that sits at the center of PDJ's physical operation — responsible for everything that happens from the moment product enters the production cooler room through the moment it is loaded onto an outbound truck or dispatched to a customer.

The Production & Fulfillment Operations Manager reports directly to the Founder & CEO and works in close partnership with the Executive Chef of Operations and the FSQA Manager. This role directly supervises production and fulfillment staff and is accountable for output quality, throughput efficiency, fulfillment accuracy, equipment readiness, and operational discipline across both functions.

This role spends a significant portion of each shift working in PDJ's cold production environment (maintained at 41°F) and requires a candidate who is comfortable with sustained physical work in temperature-controlled conditions. The right person for this role thrives in a structured, high-accountability production environment and takes genuine ownership of the systems and people they are responsible for.

Key Responsibilities

Cold Room Production Operations

• Lead and oversee all production operations within PDJ's cold production cooler room (41°F), ensuring workflow is organized, efficient, and executed to standard on every shift
• Oversee and actively participate in the portioning and plating process, ensuring all products are prepared to PDJ's established portion weights, presentation guidelines, and quality specifications
• Oversee vacuum sealing operations using Multivac equipment, including machine setup, operation, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance; serve as the primary operator and subject matter expert for all Multivac machinery on site
• Oversee the case packing process, ensuring finished products are packed accurately, labeled correctly, and staged properly for fulfillment or co-man shipment
• Maintain accurate inventory of production consumables including bags, trays, film, and other packaging materials; communicate reorder needs to Procurement proactively before shortages occur
• Maintain organized systems for labels and shipping documentation to ensure all outbound product is correctly identified, dated, and traceable
• Collaborate with the Founder & CEO and Executive Chef of Operations to build, organize, and execute the production schedule; flag capacity constraints, staffing needs, or production risks as early as possible
• Ensure all production activity is executed in full compliance with FDA and USDA regulatory standards, including GMP, HACCP, proper temperature control, sanitation protocols, and all applicable food safety requirements; serve as a frontline enforcer of these standards across the production team on every shift
• Partner with the FSQA Manager and QA team on plating guidelines, finished product signoffs, and any product holds or quality deviations; ensure all production activity is conducted in full compliance with GMP, HACCP, and food safety standards
• Maintain accurate production logs, batch records, temperature documentation, and all required production paperwork

Machine Operation & Maintenance

• Serve as the lead operator for all Multivac vacuum sealing machinery and any other equipment or machinery, including daily setup, line changeovers, in-line troubleshooting, and post-production cleaning and sanitation
• Perform and oversee routine preventative maintenance on all production, packaging, and fulfillment equipment across the facility — including but not limited to Multivac machinery, vacuum sealers, case packing equipment, pallet jacks, forklifts, and any other operational equipment — to maximize uptime and minimize unplanned downtime
• Maintain equipment maintenance logs and communicate repair needs or equipment issues to leadership promptly
• Coordinate with equipment vendors and outside technicians on scheduled service visits and any repairs requiring outside support
• Ensure all production equipment is properly cleaned, sanitized, and stored after each production run in compliance with food safety and GMP protocols

PDJ Branded Fulfillment

• Oversee all outbound fulfillment for PDJ's branded direct-to-consumer (DTC) and B2B business, ensuring every order is picked, packed, and shipped accurately and on time
• Maintain organized inventory of all PDJ-branded shipping supplies including boxes, insulated liners, ice packs, labels, tape, and other packing materials; communicate reorder needs before shortages impact operations
• Ensure all outbound PDJ orders meet PDJ's quality, cold chain, and presentation standards before shipment
• Load and manage daily outbound shipping logistics, including label generation and shipment documentation
• Ensure all DTC shipments are properly packed to maintain product integrity and cold chain compliance throughout transit

Co-Manufacturing Fulfillment

• Oversee all fulfillment operations for PDJ's co-manufacturing partners, ensuring co-man product is case packed, pallet packed, wrapped, and secured according to each partner's specifications
• Oversee DTC fulfillment on behalf of co-manufacturing clients, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with each partner's fulfillment requirements
• Operate forklift and pallet jacks to move, stage, and load co-man pallets; oversee the loading of pallets onto outbound trucks (FedEx, freight, and other carriers) safely and efficiently
• Oversee pallet wrapping and securing procedures to ensure all outbound co-man pallets meet carrier and partner specifications
• Maintain accurate co-man fulfillment records, packing documentation, and outbound shipment logs

Inbound Receiving

• Oversee all inbound receiving of packaging materials, supplies, and ingredients, ensuring all deliveries are inspected, documented, and stored correctly
• Verify inbound shipments against purchase orders for accuracy and quality; escalate discrepancies to Procurement immediately
• Ensure all received items are properly labeled, dated, and stored in compliance with food safety, FIFO, and GMP requirements
• Use pallet jacks and forklift to receive, move, and stage inbound materials as needed

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Directly supervise, train, schedule, and performance manage production and fulfillment staff, setting clear expectations and holding team members accountable to PDJ's operational and food safety standards
• Foster a culture of operational discipline, attention to detail, food safety ownership, and continuous improvement across the production and fulfillment team
• Provide general operational support across production and fulfillment areas as needed, including filling in on the floor during high-volume periods or staffing gaps
• Partner with the Executive Chef of Operations on daily production priorities, output targets, and scheduling adjustments
• Communicate operational status, output performance, equipment issues, and supply needs to the CEO and relevant stakeholders regularly
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in production operations, fulfillment management, or warehouse operations in a food manufacturing, cold chain, commissary, or CPG environment
• Prior experience operating Multivac vacuum sealing machinery strongly preferred; experience with other commercial production or packaging equipment required
• Experience in a cold production environment (refrigerated or freezer operations) preferred
• Valid forklift certification required or must be obtained within 30 days of hire; proficient and safe operation of pallet jacks required
• Experience managing fulfillment operations for both DTC and B2B or co-manufacturing accounts preferred
• Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, food safety standards, and cold chain compliance as they apply to a food production and fulfillment environment
• Demonstrated experience supervising or leading a production or warehouse team
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams — production scheduling, machine operations, inventory, and fulfillment — simultaneously
• Strong attention to detail with a high standard for accuracy in portioning, labeling, packing, and documentation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace