Lead Operator - Molding, Night Shift

General Accountability

The Lead Operator is the technical subject-matter expert for their assigned equipment, process, and production area. This role maintains hands-on ownership at the line level and serves as the first point of contact for real-time troubleshooting, process decisions, equipment issues, quality concerns, and operational support for production associates. The Lead Operator partners closely with the Shift Supervisor to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity objectives while leading by example on the production floor.

Schedule

12-hour rotating shift: 7:00pm -7:00am Week 1: Monday, Tuesday Week 2: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical resource and subject-matter expert for assigned equipment and processes.
• Lead by example in safety, quality, standard work, and operational discipline.
• Conduct start-of-shift huddles and shift handoff communications within the assigned area.
• Provide real-time troubleshooting and technical guidance to operators.
• Conduct on-the-job training and maintain required training sign-off documentation.
• Partner with the Shift Supervisor to identify operational risks and escalate issues promptly.
• Provide hands-on leadership to stabilize quality, throughput, and equipment performance.
• Make and communicate line-level operational recommendations including start/stop decisions in alignment with the Shift Supervisor.
• Monitor productivity, scrap, downtime, flow, and process performance indicators.
• Coordinate work activities to maximize equipment utilization and schedule attainment.
• Maintain BOJ/EOJ records, production documentation, training records, and visual management systems.
• Ensure adherence to work instructions, procedures, and quality requirements.
• Review and maintain production records and documentation accuracy.
• Identify, contain, and escalate quality concerns.
• Support investigations and corrective actions.
• Champion and exemplify safe work practices.
• Address unsafe conditions immediately and escalate significant concerns.
• Maintain workplace organization and housekeeping standards.
• Track and communicate operational metrics.
• Support inventory and production transactions.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 2-3 years of manufacturing or production experience.
• Minimum 1 year of experience operating equipment or processes within the assigned production area.
• Demonstrated proficiency in established work instructions, procedures, quality requirements, and production documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to train others and provide technical guidance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience performing equipment setup, changeovers, troubleshooting, and process adjustments.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading projects, training initiatives, or continuous improvement activities.
• Molding-specific process knowledge for molding area.

Physical Demands

• This position requires some physical movement around the machine areas, and an operator stands for 90% of their work shift.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, or crawl; and talk or hear.
• The employee must frequently lift and move 10-60 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to work safely around manufacturing equipment.
• Ability to wear PPE.