Operations Supervisor

About the Role

This role is aligned to the Coffee Operating Unit.

Location: 3109 Plant Water Road, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37914

Shift & Schedule: Full-Time | 5:00 PM – 5:30 AM | Friday-Sunday. Flexibility to work overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed is required.

As an Operations Supervisor, you will lead and develop a team of approximately 25 manufacturing associates in a highly automated, TPM-based production environment. You will foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement while partnering cross-functionally to optimize production efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver exceptional operational performance. This role is ideal for a hands-on leader who enjoys coaching teams, solving problems, driving process improvements, and achieving results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of approximately 25 operations associates through hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, development, and recognition.
• Drive best-in-class performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity metrics.
• Promote a culture focused on achieving zero injuries through safety observations, audits, training, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure consistent product quality by leading right-first-time execution, layered process audits, and root cause corrective actions.
• Partner with Maintenance, Quality, Materials, and Distribution teams to maximize equipment uptime through TPM and preventive maintenance practices.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, reduce waste, improve material flow, and lower operating costs.
• Support a mini-Business Unit (mBU) structure and Highly Effective Team model within a TPM environment.
• Facilitate operational meetings including production planning, TPM, site leadership, and employee communications.
• Utilize structured problem-solving techniques and data-driven decision making to improve operational performance.
• Carry out leadership responsibilities in accordance with company policies, TPM principles, and applicable regulations.

Leadership Expectations

Successful leaders in this role will:

• Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and employee engagement.
• Set clear goals and hold teams accountable for achieving results.
• Develop employees through regular coaching and feedback.
• Encourage innovation and continuous learning.
• Create an inclusive, safe, and respectful work environment.
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships across the organization.

Pay

Targeted annual compensation range of $80,000–$100,000. This is a salaried, exempt position paid biweekly. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Benefits

Benefits are effective day one where applicable and include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Paid Time Off (including vacation and sick leave)
• 401(k) with company match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Mileage Reimbursement

Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of manufacturing experience or experience in a similar production environment.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience supervising teams of 10 or more employees in a Lean manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and SAP or similar manufacturing systems.
• Ability to spend significant time on the manufacturing floor, including standing and walking throughout the shift.

Preferred Skills

• Strong leadership and people development skills.
• Experience in Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of 5S, autonomous maintenance, planned maintenance, visual management, and Kaizen event leadership.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting abilities.
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience conducting root cause analysis and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Self-motivated with high integrity and a collaborative, team-oriented mindset.