Lead Manufacturing Specialist

Department: Supply Chain | Reports to: Process Manager | FLSA Status: Exempt | Supervisory Role: Yes | Travel Requirement: 0%

About the Role

The Lead Manufacturing Specialist is the first line of leadership at the facility, ensuring a safe workplace, compliant operations, and efficient production. The LMS will model and enforce safety and food safety practices, manage line performance driven by daily metrics, and provide day-to-day leadership for staff. They will drive continuous improvement by applying lean manufacturing concepts and support value-added projects.

Responsibilities

• Safety: Serve as the example for workplace safe behaviors. Utilize the Hazard Recognition Plus method to identify hazards and implement methods to eliminate, control, and protect against hazards in the production environment.
• Food Safety: Demonstrate and practice consistent food safety behaviors. Assist in meeting customer requirements, including specifications and audit programs, through communication, documentation, and adherence to sanitation guidelines, GMPs, and the HACCP program. Maintain plant cleanliness and ensure team members have the tools and training to execute all quality programs.
• MUV Management: Collaborate across the site to reach budgeted line rates, prevent out-of-specification production, direct maintenance activities, manage raw material changes, and ensure the use of the hold process (MRB) to prevent out-of-specification products from reaching the customer.
• Staff Management: Model professional conduct in the workplace. Accountable for team problem-solving, decision-making, fair and timely disciplinary action, and conflict resolution. Conduct frequent 1:1 meetings with staff, facilitate communication between shifts and teams, and own crew training plans to ensure proper backups are in place on all lines. Ensure compliance with company policies (drug/alcohol, attendance, EEO, etc.) and respond to personnel issues as needed.
• Site Security: Act as the on-shift representative for emergency response coordination and compliance with company policies. Conduct regular site security audits.
• Accountability: Improve processes by following lean manufacturing concepts, company values, and culture. Strive for continuous improvement using Basic Way tools and actively engage in improvement tasks. Support the identification and implementation of value-added activities and projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial/manufacturing engineering, or 5+ years in a manufacturing leadership role in lieu of degree.
• 3-5 years of manufacturing-related experience in a lead role.
• Knowledge of database software, payroll software (e.g., ADP), IFS (ERP) software, Excel, and word processing software.
• Manufacturing and process knowledge.
• Sound judgment capabilities, using data and risk to make business decisions.
• Lean manufacturing knowledge and skills.
• Working knowledge of workplace safety and GMP regulations.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.
• Ability to evaluate problems, focus resources, and make efficient decisions.
• Strong leadership and effective management skills to direct employees in efficient operations.
• Effective problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis, data analysis, and A3 thinking.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Manufacturing plant environment.
• Must be able to move/lift up to 50 lbs.
• Exposure to hot/humid conditions.

Food and Workplace Safety Requirements

• All employees are responsible for upholding the principles of SQF Food Safety Code.
• All employees must immediately report any food safety, food quality, safety issues, or plant security issues to management for appropriate action.