Apply for the Department Manager, Overnight, Fresh Kitchen – Dacula job opening.Department Manager, Overnight, Fresh Kitchen – Dacula

Location: Dacula, GA
Job ID: 38836BR
Job Category: Management
Working Hours: minimum 45 hours per week
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Pay Range: $6,710 - $10,070
Date Posted: Sep 11, 2026

$87 - 130k

Onsite

Full Time - Regular

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Description

Lead the team behind some of Publix’s most trusted products as a Department Manager at our fresh kitchen manufacturing facility. Publix Manufacturing welcomes leaders with diverse backgrounds who are passionate about food manufacturing, operational excellence, and people development. Whether your experience comes from years of manufacturing leadership or a formal education in Engineering, Food Science, or a related field, you’ll find opportunities to make a meaningful impact while growing your career with Publix.

Publix Manufacturing includes Bakery (2), Dairy (3), Deli (1), Fresh Kitchen (3), and Produce Snacks (1) facilities located across the Southeast. Based in one of our fresh kitchen facilities, you’ll lead a high-performing team of production leaders and associates, collaborating with cross-functional partners to drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, and associate development. You’ll be responsible for optimizing production processes, supporting plant performance goals, fostering a culture of safety and accountability, and developing future leaders within the department.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on our manufacturing operations while building a rewarding career with one of the most respected and successful employee-owned companies in the country. If you’re a collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and is passionate about operational excellence, food safety, product quality, and people development, we’d love to hear from you.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Planning and maintaining production processes within the production department
• Ensuring food quality and food safety within the production department; including Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Safe Quality Foods (SQF) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
• Ensuring associate safety within the production department by complying with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety regulations
• Developing, training, and mentoring production department associates: which includes;
  • Participating in the interview and selection process
  • Executing, administering and training associates on Publix, Manufacturing and plant policies
  • Providing direction, encouraging, motivating and building morale and
  • Evaluating performance and verifying results
• Identifying and ensuring execution of continuous improvement opportunities to improve associate productivity and asset productivity

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Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent experience
• 2 years of experience in a business area specific production environment or equivalent experience
• 2 years of leadership experience or equivalent experience
• Ability to obtain and maintain Certified Food Safety Manager certification
• Strong managerial and leadership skills
• Must have a willingness to work a variable schedule including nights, holidays, and weekends
• Ability to travel with overnight stays
• Communication skills (in both written and verbal format)
• Knowledge of Microsoft application (Excel, Outlook, Word)
• Knowledge of OSHA requirements for the purpose of personal safety and providing a safe work environment for our associates
• Knowledge of Manufacturing processing equipment for optimal utilization of assets
• Knowledge of production equipment, such as cleaning, sanitation, preventative maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting
• Knowledge of Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) in order to produce safe, wholesome products
• Ability to be innovative
• Ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills
• Ability to demonstrate detailed organization by analyzing, planning, and follow through at a detailed level
• Ability to work independently, be a self-starter and demonstrate a high degree of self-motivation, commitment, and integrity
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and conceptual skills
• Ability to analyze and design processes
• Ability to analyze information and data
• Ability to multi-task by handling more than one priority at a time
• Ability to learn new, complex ideas or concepts
• Ability to visualize a situation
• Ability to be exposed to highly confidential information and matters
• Ability to act in a professional manner
• Ability to remain calm in a crisis
• Strong facilitation skills
• Ability to execute large-scale projects from vision through implementation
• Ability to motivate and inspire
• Ability to encourage participation, learning, innovation and creativity within teams and associates and a
• Commitment to Publix and our mission.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in in Engineering, Food Science, or a related field.
• 3 years of experience in a business area specific production environment
• 3 years of manufacturing leadership experience
• SQF Certification
• HACCP Certification
• Knowledge of Publix policies and guidelines for the management of monthly and hourly associates
• Knowledge of Publix’ organizational structure for effective communication with appropriate business areas, departments, associates, etc.

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Benefits

• Employee stock ownership plan that contributes Publix stock to associates each year at no cost
• An opportunity to purchase additional shares of our privately-held stock
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Group health, dental and vision plans
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Free hot lunches (buffet-style) at facilities with a cafeteria
• Visit our website to see all of our benefits: Benefits – Jobs (publix.com)

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Year End Bonus

As a year-end bonus to associates, Publix issues one month’s extra pay (pro-rated in the first year) each year if associate remains employed through issue date of the bonus check that year. This is calculated as a 13th month of pay in the Potential Annual Pay with Bonus line above.

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Additional Information

Your application may have additional steps that you will need to complete in order to remain eligible for consideration. Please be sure to monitor your email, including your spam folder, on a daily basis for critical, time-sensitive emails that could require action within 24-48 hours.

Please do not use your Publix email address when applying. Once your application has been successfully submitted you will receive a confirmation email.

For this position, Publix does not and will not file a petition or application with the USCIS or Department of State on behalf of any noncitizen for any immigration-related benefit to work and/or to continue to work in the United States, e.g., an H-1B or TN petition or permanent residence.

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