JOB POSTING — FOOD PRODUCTION MANAGER
Swan Lake Market & Garden – Vernon, BC
Full Time | Working Manager |
Swan Lake Market & Garden is looking for a Food Production Manager to lead the daily production and quality of our deli, café, and grab-and-go prepared foods program. This is a hands-on working leadership role ideal for a production cook, sous chef, or kitchen supervisor who thrives in a structured environment with clean ingredients and consistent standards.
If you love food, care deeply about quality, enjoy training and leading people, and want to work in a healthy daytime-focused environment, this role is made for you.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Food Production Manager oversees all deli production stations (Stations 1, 2, 3, and 5), including batch cooking, service-line prep, vegetable prep, café/ice-cream station packaging, and grab-and-go execution.
You work on the floor every day, leading the team, training staff, tasting and correcting seasoning, maintaining clean-ingredient standards, and ensuring consistent, high-quality food reaches customers.
This role partners with—but is separate from—the Deli & Bakery Administrative Manager, who handles scheduling, ordering, inventory, costing, systems, and vendor communication.
You focus entirely on people, production, quality, and consistency.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
Lead Daily Production
- Work alongside staff in a hands-on leadership role.
- Oversee batch cooking for soups, proteins, salads, vegetables, and bowl components.
- Direct workflow and station coordination.
- Adjust production in real time based on staffing and customer flow.
Ensure Quality & Consistency
- Taste products and correct seasoning, texture, or technique.
- Enforce recipes, yields, and clean-ingredient standards.
- Ensure hot case, cold case, and grab-and-go items meet visual and freshness expectations.
Train & Coach Staff
- Train cooks, prep staff, and packaging team members.
- Build a strong tasting culture and high craftsmanship.
- Provide real-time feedback, coaching, and operational discipline when required.
Manage Daily Operations
- Execute production plans and ensure items are completed on schedule.
- Coordinate packaging production at Station 5: parfaits, snack packs, salads, bottled items.
- Maintain logs, safety standards, and sanitation.
Collaborate With Admin & Bakery Managers
- Communicate production needs and shortages.
- Work with the Administrative Manager on PAR adjustments, yields, and ordering.
- Collaborate with the Bakery Manager on crossover products.
WHO YOU ARE
Culinary-Driven
- Strong palate for seasoning and balance
- Skilled in batch cooking
- Passion for whole foods and clean ingredients
Operational Leader
- Excellent at organizing workflow and supervising staff
- Calm, clear communicator
- Hands-on and solutions-oriented
Team Builder
- Enjoys coaching and correcting staff
- Low-ego and respectful
- Brings stability and consistency to the kitchen
Practical & Professional
- Reliable, organized, and detail-oriented
- Takes ownership of quality outcomes
REQUIREMENTS
- 3–8 years experience in production cooking, sous chef, commissary kitchen, deli/prepared foods, or banquet environments
- Strong understanding of batch cooking, yields, and recipe execution
- Comfort training and supervising staff
- Commitment to clean-ingredient principles
- FoodSafe
- Ability to lift 30–50 lbs and stand for extended periods
Culinary school is an asset but not required.
WHY JOIN SWAN LAKE MARKET?
- Positive kitchen culture and clean-ingredient philosophy
- A high-standard grocery + prepared foods environment
- A leadership role with real impact
- Opportunities to help shape a revitalized deli program
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $55,000.00-$65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Discounted or free food
- Extended health care
- Wellness program
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Vernon, BC V1B 3W6: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Deli : 3 years (preferred)
- chef: 3 years (preferred)
- management: 3 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Food Safety Certification (required)
- Serving It Right (preferred)
Location:
- Vernon, BC V1B 3W6 (preferred)
Work Location: In person
