Team Lead, Plastics

Location: Taylor, PA – Plant 1, First Shift (Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 3 PM)

About the role

The Team Lead is a working leadership role responsible for the day-to-day operation and performance of a defined injection molding area. The Team Lead holds overall accountability for Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP) results in that area while remaining a productive, hands-on contributor on the floor. The Team Lead is the first line of leadership for operators, owns the area's hour-by-hour production board, and is the primary link between the operators and the Shift Supervisor. The role directs roughly 20 operators across roughly 40 injection molding machines. As a working lead, the Team Lead spends a defined portion of each shift performing production and break or lunch coverage, with the balance dedicated to leadership, coordination, and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Own Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP) results for the area and the corresponding lines on the area's hour-by-hour production board.
• Serve as the first point of contact for safety; ensure operators follow all safety rules, lockout/tagout (LOTO), machine guarding, and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, and stop any operation that cannot be run safely.
• Ensure setup, first-piece approvals, and in-process quality checks are completed per the control plan and work instructions; contain, record, and disposition defects and keep nonconforming material segregated.
• Own scrap in the area and support the plastics material-yield and scrap-reduction program through accurate, machine-level scrap measurement.
• Own hour-by-hour production tracking; ensure every machine needed is staffed, running to schedule, and meeting or exceeding rate.
• Coordinate break and lunch rotations so machines do not sit idle, and coordinate timely changeovers with mechanics and material availability with material handlers.
• Escalate downtime, tooling, process, and material issues promptly to the Shift Supervisor, mechanics, and planning.
• Allocate roughly 20 operators across roughly 40 machines for effective staffing and output, and reduce controllable cost by minimizing scrap, unplanned downtime, and unnecessary overtime.
• Provide day-to-day direction to operators; coach on standard work, quality, and safety; coordinate training and cross-training; and maintain the area skills matrix.
• Lead the daily area huddle at the board, represent the area at the shift-level tiered meeting, and complete a clear handoff to the next shift.

Requirements

• Two or more years of injection molding production experience (internal candidates strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated proficiency operating multiple molding machines and processes across the area, and able to perform all operator duties as a working lead.
• Basic troubleshooting of common molding, process, and material issues.
• Able to read and follow production schedules, control plans, and work instructions.
• Basic math and the data-entry skills needed to keep the production board current.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to direct, coach, and develop others.
• Reliable attendance and sound day-to-day judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with tiered or lean manufacturing practices, hour-by-hour boards, or standard work.
• Familiarity with quality systems and defect or scrap classification.
• Setup or changeover experience.

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed on a manufacturing plant floor, with exposure to noise and heat from molding equipment.
• Frequent standing and walking for the full shift, with occasional bending, reaching, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Consistent use of required PPE.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits package including medical, dental, and 401(k).
• Paid lunches, breaks, vacations, and holidays.