Lead Production Specialist

Job Summary

The Working Lead performs hands-on production work on the line while also directing and supporting a team of print, laminating, and cutting operators. This role acts as the first point of leadership on the floor — assigning daily work, monitoring quality and productivity, enforcing safety and company policy, and keeping small issues from becoming big ones. The Working Lead is a working member of the crew, and is expected to model the pace, quality, and attitude the team should follow. The ideal candidate will have at experience in printing, laminating, cutting and must have at least 3 years of any leadership experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• Delegate daily tasks and job assignments across the team based on production schedules, deadlines, and individual skill sets.
• Motivate team members and set the tone on the floor, leading by example through hands-on work alongside the crew.
• Provide on-the-job coaching and guidance to help team members improve speed, accuracy, and technique.

Performance Monitoring

• Track individual and team productivity against production targets and shift goals.
• Monitor quality of work and flag or correct issues before product moves downstream.

Operational Oversight

• Monitor workflow across the shift to keep jobs moving and identify bottlenecks early.
• Conduct routine safety inspections of the work area, equipment, and processes.
• Recommend adjustments to workload distribution and job priority based on deadlines, machine availability, and staffing.
• Reprioritize jobs in real time when rush orders, downtime, or staffing changes require it.

Conflict Resolution

• Address minor day-to-day employee issues and disagreements directly and fairly on the floor.
• Recognize when an issue is beyond the scope of a lead role (e.g., policy violations, repeated performance issues, personnel matters) and escalate promptly to the operations manager.

Maintenance Management

• Confirm that routine equipment maintenance is being performed on schedule by operators or maintenance staff.
• Perform or coordinate designated weekly and monthly preventive maintenance checks on assigned equipment.
• Report equipment issues, irregularities, or needed repairs to maintenance and management in a timely manner.

Safety and Compliance

• Enforce company policies, safety procedures, and quality standards consistently across the team.
• Monitor product quality throughout the shift and ensure corrective action is taken when standards aren’t met.

Skills

• Communication — able to clearly relay instructions, priorities, and feedback to the team and to management.
• Decision-Making — able to make sound, timely calls on the floor with limited direct supervision.
• Conflict Resolution — able to defuse and resolve everyday workplace friction.
• Problem-Solving — able to troubleshoot workflow, quality, and equipment issues as they arise.
• Organization — able to juggle multiple jobs, deadlines, and people without losing track of priorities.

Ability To

• Manage a team to consistently meet production and quality goals.
• Adjust to changing work priorities based upon customer needs.
• Help build a high-functioning team that takes ownership of its own results and responsibilities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience directly leading a team, preferably in print, laminating, cutting, or a related production manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the essential duties of a line operator role, plus willingness to take on lead-level responsibility.
• Basic proficiency with production tracking logs, timekeeping systems, or similar tools.

Nice to Have

• Experience with 5S workplace organization.
• Experience with just-in-time (JIT) ordering.
• Experience with lean manufacturing principles.
• Experience on HP 3200, R2000, 830 and with Zund cutters.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and reach for extended periods during a shift.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. periodically.
• Ability to work in a production environment with exposure to noise, machinery, and varying temperatures.