What are the responsibilities and job description for the Shift Leader position at AAK?
Making Better Happen
Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.
From our success in Scandinavia, we've grown into the world's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4000 people all across the globe.
We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it's not just food - we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.
Every one of us works towards our shared purpose: Making Better Happen™.
Everything we do is about Making Better Happen together.
Join nearly 4,000 like-minded colleagues globally and build a better future with us.
Build a better future as a Shift Leader in Newark, NJ
Hourly Range: $41.93 - $51.25
Possible Bonus: 7.5%
AAK Newark
About The Role
The Shift Leader is responsible for leading safe, efficient, and compliant operations during assigned shifts within the Port Newark plant. This role owns the execution of production activities, ensuring alignment with production plans, quality standards, and customer requirements. The Shift Leader serves as the frontline leader for the production team, driving safety, operational discipline, and consistent execution across processing operations. This role plays a critical part in building team capability and reinforcing standards through clear expectations and strong leadership presence.
Responsibilities
Leading all shift processing operations to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient execution of the production plan
Career paths, training and development, e-learning and tuition reimbursement programs offer potential for you to progress your future career
Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental and vision) starting date of hire
Health Savings Account with AAK annual contribution of $1,000-$1,500
We match 100% of the first 3% you contribute to your 401(k), and 50% of the next 3%
Free Life and Disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection and Legal Insurance Plans
Discounts on travel, amusement parks, concerts, movies, and more
Celebrations, events, and activities on site and supporting our communities
Recognition incentives for service and peer to peer recognition
About AAK
Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.
AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.
Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the windy coast where Sweden and Denmark meet.
From our success in Scandinavia, we've grown into the world's leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4000 people all across the globe.
We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it's not just food - we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.
Every one of us works towards our shared purpose: Making Better Happen™.
Everything we do is about Making Better Happen together.
Join nearly 4,000 like-minded colleagues globally and build a better future with us.
Build a better future as a Shift Leader in Newark, NJ
Hourly Range: $41.93 - $51.25
Possible Bonus: 7.5%
AAK Newark
About The Role
The Shift Leader is responsible for leading safe, efficient, and compliant operations during assigned shifts within the Port Newark plant. This role owns the execution of production activities, ensuring alignment with production plans, quality standards, and customer requirements. The Shift Leader serves as the frontline leader for the production team, driving safety, operational discipline, and consistent execution across processing operations. This role plays a critical part in building team capability and reinforcing standards through clear expectations and strong leadership presence.
Responsibilities
Leading all shift processing operations to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient execution of the production plan
- Driving a strong safety culture and ensuring compliance with all EHS policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
- Owning product quality performance through strict adherence to process parameters, specifications, and timely escalation of deviations
- Driving execution of daily production activities in alignment with site priorities and production schedules
- Identifying, troubleshooting, and resolving operational issues to minimize downtime and sustain performance
- Leading shift communication and ensuring alignment with daily production meetings and cross-functional teams
- Developing and leading the production team through coaching, training, performance management, and reinforcement of standards
- Enforcing SOP adherence and operational discipline across all shift activities
- Driving continuous improvement initiatives, including productivity, reliability, and loss elimination efforts
- Owning shift performance results and reporting on production, efficiency, and quality outcomes
- Partnering with Maintenance, Quality, and EHS teams to ensure effective execution of site objectives
- Leading initial response and supporting investigations, ensuring timely implementation of corrective and preventive actions
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a technical or related field preferred
- 5 years of experience in a process manufacturing environment with demonstrated leadership responsibility
- Experience in edible oil processing, chemical processing, or similar continuous manufacturing operations preferred
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to troubleshoot operational issues in real time
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive execution against production and safety expectations
- Strong communication and leadership skills across both frontline and cross-functional teams
- Ability to work a 12-hour rotating shift schedule, including weekends and holidays
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship
Career paths, training and development, e-learning and tuition reimbursement programs offer potential for you to progress your future career
Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental and vision) starting date of hire
Health Savings Account with AAK annual contribution of $1,000-$1,500
We match 100% of the first 3% you contribute to your 401(k), and 50% of the next 3%
Free Life and Disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection and Legal Insurance Plans
Discounts on travel, amusement parks, concerts, movies, and more
Celebrations, events, and activities on site and supporting our communities
Recognition incentives for service and peer to peer recognition
About AAK
Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.
AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.
Salary : $1,000 - $1,500