For over 100 years JC Watson has grown and prospered by sticking to our values. Our family-run company puts a premium on relationships, quality, and growth. We value our employees and hire people who want to grow with our family operation. You’ll have a chance to do your best here — to try new ideas, forge lasting partnerships, and deepen a legacy that’s over 100 years in the making.
The JC Watson Difference - We’ve learned a few things over the past century. How to coax every bit of goodness out of Southern Idaho’s rich soil so it feeds acres and acres of perfect onions. How to build relationships that don’t just last a season, but generations. How to deliver our delicious onions anywhere, any time. Of course, we’re always learning how to do even better — after all, we plan on being here for another 100 Years.
Why JC Watson?
- Family-Centric Culture: Be a part of a company that understands and values the importance of family.
- Commitment to Excellence: We strive to exceed expectations in everything we do.
- Respect: Relationships are key here, and we treat others the way we wish to be treated.
- Invested in our Employees: Our employees are our family and we make sure they have a competitive benefits and compensation package.
- Innovation: We encourage thought leaders - new ideas, new ways of working, and improved processes.
We are seeking a collaborative, results-driven Senior Production Manager to lead our new, automated onion packing facility. This strategic leader role will be responsible for overseeing and continuously improving all aspects of production operations in our new facility. This role drives performance through effective team leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and long-term planning to ensure the safe, efficient, and high-quality handling, grading, and packing of onions. The ideal candidate brings operational expertise, data-driven decision-making, and a passion for process excellence in a fast-paced production environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop a high-performing production team, including two production crews and their frontline supervisors (approx. 25 team members per shift), to deliver consistent results in support of organizational targets and goals.
- Oversee and continuously improve all stages of the production lifecycle—receiving, sorting, grading, and packing—to ensure alignment with product quality standards and customer requirements.
- Collaborate closely with Sales, and other functional leaders to align production planning with demand forecasts and resource availability, driving throughput and minimizing downtime.
- Champion a culture of safety and food safety by ensuring compliance with regulatory standards (GlobalG.A.P,, OSHA, etc.) and implementing proactive training and risk mitigation strategies.
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance productivity, reduce waste, and optimize labor and resource utilization.
- Monitor and manage production budgets, analyze and report out on operational metrics, and implement cost-control measures where needed.
- Foster a positive team culture through effective, real-time performance feedback, coaching, and professional development of supervisors and team members.
- Ensure production readiness for internal and external audits through sustained cleanliness, organization, and documentation practices.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Operations Management, Food Science, Industrial Engineering, Agriculture, or a related field.
- Minimum 5 years of relevant progressive experience in food production, agricultural processing, or manufacturing, including direct team leadership.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive results in a high-volume, time-sensitive production environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience using data to guide decisions and improve performance.
- Working knowledge of safety and food safety standards (e.g., GlobalG.A.P,, OSHA); audit experience a plus.
- Familiarity with grading standards and packing workflows in agricultural or perishable product settings.
- Proficiency in production software, scheduling systems, and performance tracking tools.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) communication skills a plus.
Department: Operations
Reports To: President/CEO
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 40-hour week with occasional overtime and seasonal weekend work
Compensation: Competitive based on experience
Benefits: Paid Time Off, 401k, 401k match, health, vision, health reimbursement account, flexible spending account, life and ad&d insurance
Relocation: Competitive relocation package for qualified candidates
Our company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state or federal law.
This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one’s employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits and termination.
