Production Team Lead

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate daily production activities to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets
• Assign work, balance labor, and ensure adequate coverage for production needs
• Monitor production output, downtime, scrap, and efficiency; escalate issues as needed
• Ensure adherence to standard work instructions, SOPs, and production schedules
• Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, and support to production team members
• Train new hires and cross-train team members to support operational flexibility
• Promote a positive, respectful, and accountable work environment
• Support performance management through feedback, attendance monitoring, and documentation
• Enforce safety rules, PPE usage, and safe work practices at all times
• Conduct safety talks, audits, and incident investigations as required
• Ensure products meet quality standards and support root-cause analysis for defects
• Partner with Quality and Engineering to implement corrective actions
• Identify and drive improvement opportunities related to safety, quality, productivity, and cost
• Participate in Lean, Kaizen, 5S, or other continuous improvement initiatives
• Support process improvements, equipment optimization, and waste reduction efforts
• Communicate production goals, priorities, and shift handoffs clearly
• Escalate equipment issues, material shortages, and staffing concerns promptly
• Maintain accurate production, downtime, and labor records in ERP/MES systems
• Collaborate with Maintenance, Quality, Planning, and Supply Chain teams
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required
• 3-5+ years of manufacturing or production experience
• 1-3 years of experience in a lead, senior operator, or supervisory capacity
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma exposure or certification
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and production workflows
• Basic computer skills (ERP/MES systems, Microsoft Office)

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, or related field
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment (ISO, FDA, GMP, etc.)
• Experience leading union or non-union teams
• Strong leadership, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills
• Clear verbal and written communication
• Problem-solving and root-cause analysis capabilities
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, hands-on manufacturing environment
• High attention to detail and commitment to safety and quality