What are the responsibilities and job description for the Area Leader, Plant position at The J.M. Smucker Co.?
Your Opportunity as the Area Leader
This is a high-visibility, hands-on leadership opportunity where you’ll directly influence the day-to-day performance of a critical production area. As the Area Leader, you’ll set the standard for safety, quality, and reliability across all shifts—translating priorities into action, removing barriers for your teams, and ensuring the line delivers consistently in a fast-paced 24/7 operation.
Location: Orrville, OH
Work Arrangements: 100% onsite
In This Role You Will
What we are looking for:
We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.
Stay connected with us on LinkedIn®
We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.
This is a high-visibility, hands-on leadership opportunity where you’ll directly influence the day-to-day performance of a critical production area. As the Area Leader, you’ll set the standard for safety, quality, and reliability across all shifts—translating priorities into action, removing barriers for your teams, and ensuring the line delivers consistently in a fast-paced 24/7 operation.
Location: Orrville, OH
Work Arrangements: 100% onsite
In This Role You Will
- Manage a team of 36 hourly technicians across 3 shifts and supports a department that runs a 24/5 operating schedule.
- Own the safety, quality, and reliability of a production line across all shifts.
- Manage 3 team leaders and multiple functional leaders on the teams
- Plan and executes the team’s work plans
- Hold team accountable to individual and team responsibilities
- Has the ability to direct engineering projects from conception through completion
- Act as a key member of the department leadership team
- Work closely with managers, plant engineering, and technicians to solve problems and improve the department
- Identify losses and develops plans and strategies to eliminate losses in the areas of safety, quality, reliability, and cost
- Develop technician skills within department to include new hires all the way up to team leaders
- Work closely with a process engineer and maintenance coordinators to improve the results of the production lines
- Provide support throughout other parts of the plant as needed on a daily basis
- Own a safety key element for the plant
- Achieve and improves scorecard results for the department
- Act as a safety role model at all times
- Monitor progress of technician’s step-up cards
- Meet or exceed process reliability targets
- Strong organizational, planning, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Effective presentation, verbal and written communication skills.
What we are looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree is required, concentration in engineering is preferred
- A minimum of 1 year of manufacturing experience required
- Strong troubleshooting skills is required
- A minimum of 1 year of people management experience in an operations environment required
- Knowledge of process safety and manufacturing safety protocols is required
- Knowledge of mechanical and maintenance processes
- Experience managing, leading, and influencing teams
- Experience in food, beverage, or pharmaceuticals is preferred
- Willingness to work a schedule that most effectively supports the organization. This could include beginning the workday at 6:00 am in support of Daily Direction Setting meeting
- Ability to work with the manufacturing leadership team, technicians, engineers, equipment manufacturers, vendors, and construction/equipment contractors
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to train technicians and explain difficult technical material in a way that is understood and executed
- Ability to flex to off shift as needed to support production
- Perform their roles and responsibilities in a safe manner
We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.
Stay connected with us on LinkedIn®
We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.