Team Lead

Job Title: Team Lead – Production Operations (Hourly – Non-Exempt)

Reports to: Operations Manager

Location: Northfield, Vermont

Job Summary: At La Panciata Bakery, the Team Lead – Production Operations plays a critical role in supporting daily production activities while guiding, training, and motivating team members. This full-time, hourly non-exempt position serves as a key link between frontline staff and management, ensuring operational consistency, accountability, and high team performance. Team Leads work alongside production staff to maintain workflow efficiency, reinforce company standards, and support continuous improvement efforts. This role is designed as a developmental pathway into a Supervisor position.

Key Responsibilities

Production Leadership & Workflow Support

• Support daily production operations to ensure efficiency, quality, and adherence to company standards
• Coordinate workflow across team members to maintain steady production output
• Serve as a point of accountability for team performance and process consistency
• Step in and perform production tasks as needed to support team success

Training & Team Development

• Train and onboard new employees, including overseeing job shadowing and skill development
• Coach team members on performance expectations and operational procedures
• Reinforce company standards, safety protocols, and production best practices
• Support a positive and collaborative team environment

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor key production metrics such as output, waste reduction, and product quality
• Identify workflow challenges and contribute to process improvement initiatives
• Ensure adherence to food safety, quality, and operational procedures
• Communicate production concerns or improvement opportunities to leadership

Communication & Collaboration

• Maintain regular communication with leadership regarding staffing needs and operational challenges
• Support coordination between production staff and management
• Assist with maintaining production efficiency during peak demand periods

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Demonstrated leadership potential with strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to influence, motivate, and guide team members without formal supervisory authority
• Strong work ethic, reliability, and accountability in a fast-paced environment
• Willingness to learn operational processes and develop supervisory capabilities
• Prior experience in production, manufacturing, food service, or a similar environment preferred

Work Hours:

• Schedule varies based on production needs
• Flexibility required to support workflow completion and team coordination
• Occasional extended shifts may be necessary depending on production demand

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Previous production, manufacturing, bakery, or food service experience preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Lift 50 lbs occasionally
• Lift 20–40 lbs frequently
• Frequent standing for extended periods
• Ability to perform physically demanding work in a fast-paced production environment

About La Panciata

La Panciata, a family-owned bakery in Northfield, Vermont, has been producing delicious Italian-style bread since 1992. Originally started by Glenn and Lori Loati, the bakery gained popularity through its quality product and word of mouth. The bread's exceptional taste and quality ingredients have earned a loyal customer base. La Panciata offers a diverse range of flavors, textures, and styles. The bakery is also known for its community involvement, with the original owners and current owners, Justin and Bonka Loati, actively giving back to local charities. In 2016, Justin and Bonka purchased the bakery, maintaining its originality while infusing their own individuality into the business.

Working at La Panciata bakery you will be part of the team that makes high quality bread products that feed thousands of people in Vermont and parts of New Hampshire every week. You can also take pride in knowing that the extra bread you make that does not go into orders makes its way into many donations that help those in need and to support charitable community events. You become an important part of the community by being on our baking team.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $17.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17