Area Lead

Scope of Job: The Manufacturing Area Lead position is responsible for overseeing daily operations within an assigned production area to ensure safety, quality, productivity, and workflow efficiency. This role provides hands‑on leadership to production team members, coordinates shift activities and serves as the primary point of contact between operators, maintenance, quality, and management. The Area Lead monitors performance metrics, troubleshoots issues, supports training and development, and ensures adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and regulatory requirements. This position plays a key role in driving continuous improvement, maintaining a high-performing team culture, and ensuring production goals are met consistently and safely.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Resident expert on customer specifications for area must be able to pull information from company software and systems.
• Communicates and coordinates with counterparts of other departments and/or support groups (i.e. maintenance, warehouse, QA).
• Assists Supervisor with plant start-ups; assists QC; gets right skill set in the correct spots, manages absentees.
• Verify that necessary materials are available for production and rework.
• Verify paperwork is completed correctly through the audit of inspectors to ensure compliance with site standards.
• Able to run equipment for break relief and/or staffing shortage.
• Owns labor schedule for area; develops labor needs for future schedules and presents to supervisor Forward looking and planning for week’s schedule; updates daily production boards for next day’s production.
• Manages temporary workforce. An effective trainer: ensure new employees/temporary employees in area are trained on job responsibilities, safety, GMP’s and process before working in production operations.
• Primary owner for area safety and housekeeping of all primary and secondary process areas (i.e. cooler) drives improvement with each.
• Facilitates Daily Huddle Meetings and ensures performance boards are maintained.
• Provides set-up instructions for following day production needs on set-up board(s).
• Plans and/or participates in CI events with site leadership.
• Develops and Updates Standard Work for each position in area.
• Identify, reduce, and explain any operational concerns.
• Delegate to develop hourly workforce (i.e. operators, online QCs).
• Report employee performance feedback (positive and developmental) to supervisor or manager.
• Remains in constant communication with supervisor regarding any issues, concerns with production.
• Ensures completion of Required Training to include GMP’s and Safety
• Implements cross-training within process area; Monitors performance once employee is in role (example: # of retort deviations, # of batching errors, etc.)
• Collaborate with production and support departments to ensure food safety and the quality of our products.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education: Highschool diploma or GED required.

Experience: 1 – 3 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment preferred. Working experience with Microsoft operating systems, such as Word, Excel and Outlook required.

Competencies: Functional Testing, Standard Operation Procedures, Safety Policies and Procedures, Troubleshooting, Product Specifications, Record Keeping, Production Resources, Good Manufacturing Practices, Strong Communication Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Self-Directed, Proactive, Teamwork, Integrity, and Operational Excellence.

Physical Requirements: Requires prolonged standing, squatting, and walking. May lift, carry, push, or pull objects up to 50 lbs.