What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Lead, Manufacturing position at Herff Jones?
Position: Production Lead, Manufacturing
Location: Warwick RI
Starting Pay: $23
THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN CELEBRATING STUDENT MILESTONES – HERFF JONES
Herff Jones is the leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. Herff Jones' products include class rings and jewelry, caps and gowns, diplomas, frames, announcements, and Greek accessories as well as motivation and recognition programs.
Since 1920, our team has worked alongside students, faculty, and staff on campuses nationwide to help build a stronger community and celebrate student milestones. Our continued success relies on hiring extraordinary talent, with a passion for making a difference and eagerness to roll up the sleeves, to help us write the story of our next 100 years.
Your Opportunity
The Herff Jones production team is looking for a Production Lead, Manufacturing to join our HJ Family.
Here's How You Will Make An Impact
As a Production Lead, you will play a critical role in keeping manufacturing operations running smoothly, efficiently, and safely. You will directly support the Operations Manager by coordinating people, processes, and priorities on the production floor to ensure customer commitments are met. By proactively moving work through the system, removing roadblocks, and coaching employees, you will drive on-time delivery, maintain high-quality standards, and contribute to a positive, accountable, and results-driven work environment.
Your leadership and hands-on involvement will help improve workflow efficiency, support continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure production goals are achieved even during peak demand periods.
What You Will Do On A Daily Basis
Daily activity includes but is not limited to:
About Herff Jones
Indianapolis-based Herff Jones is the leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. Herff Jones’ products include class rings and jewelry, caps and gowns, diplomas and announcements as well as motivation and recognition programs. Focused on building long-term relationships through a nationwide network of over 1,400 employees and sales partners, the professionals at Herff Jones have been helping elevate the student experience throughout the lifelong journey of education for more than 100 years. For more information about Herff Jones, please visit www.herffjones.com.
Herff Jones, Inc. and its affiliates are equal opportunity employers and maintain affirmative action plans to recruit, retain, develop, and promote qualified individuals without unlawful consideration of race, gender, gender identity, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Herff Jones strives to maintain a work environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, where associates are treated with respect and dignity.
Any employment agency, person or entity that submits a résumé into this career site or to a hiring manager does so with the understanding that the applicant's résumé will become the property of Herff Jones. Herff Jones will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.
Location: Warwick RI
Starting Pay: $23
THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN CELEBRATING STUDENT MILESTONES – HERFF JONES
Herff Jones is the leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. Herff Jones' products include class rings and jewelry, caps and gowns, diplomas, frames, announcements, and Greek accessories as well as motivation and recognition programs.
Since 1920, our team has worked alongside students, faculty, and staff on campuses nationwide to help build a stronger community and celebrate student milestones. Our continued success relies on hiring extraordinary talent, with a passion for making a difference and eagerness to roll up the sleeves, to help us write the story of our next 100 years.
Your Opportunity
The Herff Jones production team is looking for a Production Lead, Manufacturing to join our HJ Family.
Here's How You Will Make An Impact
As a Production Lead, you will play a critical role in keeping manufacturing operations running smoothly, efficiently, and safely. You will directly support the Operations Manager by coordinating people, processes, and priorities on the production floor to ensure customer commitments are met. By proactively moving work through the system, removing roadblocks, and coaching employees, you will drive on-time delivery, maintain high-quality standards, and contribute to a positive, accountable, and results-driven work environment.
Your leadership and hands-on involvement will help improve workflow efficiency, support continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure production goals are achieved even during peak demand periods.
What You Will Do On A Daily Basis
- Coordinate and monitor daily production workflow to ensure schedules, quotas, and delivery targets are met.
- Actively move, expedite, and prioritize production work through the department to prevent delays and minimize downtime.
- Track order status, adjust work priorities, and escalate issues as needed to maintain production flow.
- Remove obstacles that slow production by addressing material shortages, staffing gaps, equipment issues, or process constraints.
- Complete, review, and communicate daily production metrics and reports to the Operations Manager.
- Assist with short-term production planning, labor allocation, and capacity adjustments.
- Conduct in-process quality checks and ensure products meet established specifications and standards.
- Identify quality issues early, implement corrective actions, and coordinate with upstream and downstream teams.
- Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
- Enforce safety policies and OSHA requirements, ensuring safe work practices, PPE usage, and proper equipment handling.
- Perform routine safety checks and address unsafe conditions immediately.
- Serve as the first point of contact for production employees, providing guidance, problem-solving, and direction.
- Provide hands-on coaching, cross-training, and day-to-day performance feedback to team members.
- Promote teamwork, accountability, and a positive workplace culture.
- Coordinate with Customer Service, planning, and other departments to resolve order, scheduling, or priority conflicts.
- Maintain adequate tools, materials, and supplies to support uninterrupted production.
- Manage flags, change requests, and work-order updates, ensuring timely follow-through and closure.
- High school diploma or GED required; additional technical or manufacturing-related training preferred.
- 2 years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment; prior lead or supervisory experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, expedite production, and keep multiple jobs moving simultaneously.
- Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
- Proven ability to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Working knowledge of production workflows, quality standards, and safety requirements.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability to learn production and reporting systems.
- Flexibility to work overtime and weekends during peak production periods.
- A continuous improvement mindset with a proactive, hands-on leadership approach.
Daily activity includes but is not limited to:
- Physical ability to lift up to 40 lbs., stand and walk for extended periods, and perform visual quality inspections in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
About Herff Jones
Indianapolis-based Herff Jones is the leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. Herff Jones’ products include class rings and jewelry, caps and gowns, diplomas and announcements as well as motivation and recognition programs. Focused on building long-term relationships through a nationwide network of over 1,400 employees and sales partners, the professionals at Herff Jones have been helping elevate the student experience throughout the lifelong journey of education for more than 100 years. For more information about Herff Jones, please visit www.herffjones.com.
Herff Jones, Inc. and its affiliates are equal opportunity employers and maintain affirmative action plans to recruit, retain, develop, and promote qualified individuals without unlawful consideration of race, gender, gender identity, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Herff Jones strives to maintain a work environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, where associates are treated with respect and dignity.
Any employment agency, person or entity that submits a résumé into this career site or to a hiring manager does so with the understanding that the applicant's résumé will become the property of Herff Jones. Herff Jones will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.
Salary : $23