Production Supervisor / Team Lead

The Production Supervisor / Team Lead is responsible for leading day-to-day production operations by coordinating staffing, equipment, workflow, and production priorities. This hands-on leadership role works directly with machine operators and warehouse personnel to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing operations. The Production Supervisor / Team Lead serves as the primary floor leader, providing employee support, training, and operational guidance while working closely with the Plant Manager to achieve production objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Production Operations

• Lead daily production activities to meet production schedules, quality standards, and operational goals.
• Coordinate staffing assignments, machine utilization, and workflow throughout each shift.
• Make day-to-day operational decisions to maintain productivity and minimize downtime.
• Calculate production output, material usage, and operational performance.
• Monitor equipment performance and coordinate maintenance activities to minimize downtime.
• Support machine setup, troubleshooting, and production changeovers as needed.
• Operate production equipment and provide floor coverage when required.

Leadership & Communication

• Supervise, train, and support machine operators, packers, and production personnel.
• Coordinate employee breaks, lunches, shift coverage, and daily staffing needs.
• Reinforce company policies, workplace expectations, and safety procedures.
• Support onboarding and cross-training of production employees.
• Escalate conduct, attendance, and performance concerns to the Plant Manager and HR.
• Communicate production priorities, workflow expectations, and daily objectives to production staff.
• Provide regular updates to the Plant Manager regarding production performance, staffing, equipment issues, and operational needs.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure compliance with quality standards, SOPs, and manufacturing procedures.
• Monitor product quality and identify opportunities to reduce scrap, improve efficiency, and increase productivity.
• Support housekeeping and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the production area.

Safety

• Promote a strong culture of workplace safety.
• Ensure compliance with all safety policies and PPE requirements.
• Identify and report safety concerns and support corrective actions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• High school diploma or GED.
• Previous manufacturing leadership or team lead experience.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Basic computer skills and experience maintaining production records.

Preferred

• Experience in plastics, packaging, extrusion, thermoforming, injection molding, or blow molding.
• Experience scheduling production and coordinating staffing.
• Experience training manufacturing employees.
• Forklift certification or willingness to obtain certification.
• Experience with production reporting or manufacturing software.

Physical Requirements

• Work in industrial manufacturing environment around noise, dust, moving equipment, and varying temperatures.
• Manual dexterity to operate equipment and perform assembly and packaging tasks.
• Stand, walk, bend, reach, push, pull, climb stairs, and access platforms.
• Lift, move, or carry up to 50 lbs with or without assistance.
• Safely wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Stand and walk for the duration of a 8 - 12 hours shift
• Work overtime, weekends, adjusted schedules, or on-call hours as needed.

About the Company

NextGen Bioplastics is a sustainability-focused food service packaging manufacturer on a mission to replace traditional plastics with innovative, compostable, plant-based bioplastic solutions. We offer a safe work environment, competitive wages, and opportunities for training and growth in a company that’s committed to sustainability and American manufacturing.

NextGen Bioplastics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.