Production Team Leader

About the role

John Deere is focused on providing enough food, fiber, and infrastructure for a rapidly growing world, investing in people and technology to tackle global challenges. This position is based onsite in Dubuque, IA. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor individual and department performance on safety, quality, delivery, and efficiency; take corrective action as needed.
• Drive employee engagement activities and establish a positive employee environment through regular communication, feedback, and guidance.
• Ensure assigned personnel have appropriate training, work instructions, and tooling to successfully execute their jobs.
• Lead safety through regular safety communications, engagement in the Continuous Improvement (CI) process, Safety and Ergonomic Risk Assessment (SERA) process, and prompt near‑miss reporting with quick, thorough corrective actions.
• Manage daily staffing and employee moves on the line to meet daily production and warehousing requirements.
• Oversee production activities to ensure manufactured products meet or exceed all established quality requirements.
• Support department‑level factory goals regarding 5S implementation, Continuous Improvement, manpower planning, and operating budgets.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in a unionized manufacturing environment.
• 1+ year of experience with manufacturing and quality management principles, tools, and processes.
• Willingness to work overtime (weekdays or weekends) as needed to support operational needs and on‑time delivery.
• Excellent communicator who thrives on solving problems and working in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions and be proactive in high‑pressure or time‑sensitive situations.
• Ability to conduct crucial conversations, including enforcing company policies, practices, procedures, and work rules.
• Experience communicating across functions such as supply management, engineering, operations, and human resources or labor relations.
• 2+ years of experience with production control systems, preferably within John Deere.
• 2+ years of experience in a leadership role in a union environment.
• 2+ years of experience with shop floor manufacturing and incentive pay systems (e.g., CIPP).
• Cross‑functional work experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Material Control, or Supply Management.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing lean manufacturing techniques to drive business improvements.
• Good working knowledge of appropriate operating and information systems used in Operations (Word, Excel, SAP, SharePoint, PowerBI).
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Technology, Operations, Business/Management, or Supply Management, or equivalent related work experience.

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements.
• Highly competitive base pay.
• Savings & Retirement benefits (401K and Defined Contribution).
• Healthcare benefits with a generous company contribution to the Health Savings Account.
• Adoption assistance.
• Employee Assistance Programs.
• Tuition assistance.
• Fitness subsidies and on‑site gyms at specific Deere locations.
• Charitable contribution match.
• Employee Purchase Plan and numerous discount programs for personal use.
• Vacation and Holiday Pay.

Pay

$77,628.00 – $116,436.00 + Benefits