Operations Team Leader

Position Summary

The Operations Team Leader oversees daily shop floor activities to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality production output. This role coordinates workforce scheduling, workflow, equipment usage, and continuous improvement initiatives to meet operational performance goals. The Team Leader is a hands-on leader who supports employee development and fosters a culture of accountability, teamwork, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Execution:

- Lead and coordinate production activities to achieve production schedules and meet customer requirements.

- Monitor line performance, address bottlenecks, and ensure operational targets are met (safety, output, quality, cost).

- Oversee equipment setup, changeovers, and troubleshooting with support from maintenance teams.

- Ensure proper inventory levels of raw materials and consumables.

People Leadership:

- Direct and motivate production team members; conduct daily huddles and communicate priorities.

- Train, coach, and develop operators to build multi-skilled capabilities.

- Conduct performance feedback and support workplace discipline aligned with HR policies.

- Promote a positive and respectful work environment.

Safety & Quality Compliance:

- Enforce safety programs, conduct audits, and respond to incidents with corrective actions.

- Ensure compliance with ISO standards, quality control checks, and work instructions.

- Identify and escalate quality issues; collaborate with QA on containment and corrective actions.

Continuous Improvement:

- Drive Lean/5S initiatives to improve productivity and eliminate waste.

- Participate in root cause analysis and implement corrective actions for process failures.

- Suggest new best practices, tools, or technologies to improve operational performance.

Reporting & Communication:

- Track and report production metrics, downtime, scrap, and labor utilization.

- Collaborate with cross-functional departments (Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain) to resolve issues.

- Maintain accurate records in ERP or MES systems.

Required Qualifications

- 3 years’ experience in manufacturing operations or related environment.

- Experience in a team leadership or lead operator role.

- Strong knowledge of safety practices, lean manufacturing, and quality systems.

- Proficiency with production reporting tools (ERP/MES).

- Ability to read technical documents such as work instructions, drawings, SOPs.

Core Competencies

- Leadership and communication

- Problem-solving and decision-making

- Results and detail orientation

- Conflict management and coaching ability

- Adaptability in a fast-paced environment

Physical & Work Requirements

- Ability to stand, walk, and lift loads for extended periods.

- Work in a manufacturing environment: noise, temperature variations, PPE requirements.

- Ability to support shift work, overtime, and weekend coverage as needed.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Safety: TRIR, incident frequency, near misses

- Quality: Scrap rate, defect rate, customer complaints

- Delivery: On-time production performance, schedule attainment

- Efficiency: OEE, labor productivity, changeover times

- People: Attendance, skill matrix improvement, engagement scores