2nd Shift Production Lead – Self-Freezing Operations

Description

Key Responsibilities

Production & Operational Leadership

• - Lead all end-to-end production activities for the assigned shift across self-freezing operations.
• - Execute daily production schedules and make real-time adjustments to labor, sequencing, and workflows.
• - Assign and reassign labor to ensure balanced workloads and optimal throughput.
• - Actively operate production and self-freezing equipment to maintain flow and address bottlenecks.
• - Monitor production performance, downtime, scrap, and yield metrics throughout the shift.
• - Escalate risks, delays, or constraints to the Production Supervisor with recommended solutions.

Team Leadership & Coaching

• - Provide hands-on leadership, direction, and coaching to operators, mixers, packers, and material handlers.
• - Support onboarding, job training, and cross-training of new and existing employees.
• - Reinforce standard work, SOPs, and safe work practices on the production floor.
• - Lead shift startup meetings, shift handoffs, and daily production communications.
• - Address performance or conduct concerns through coaching and promptly escalate issues to management.

Equipment, Technical & Process Support

• - Troubleshoot equipment, freezing systems, and process issues to minimize downtime.
• - Coordinate with maintenance and refrigeration teams on equipment issues and planned work.
• - Ensure equipment is operated within defined parameters and escalate abnormal conditions.
• - Support continuous improvement initiatives related to safety, quality, cost, and delivery.

Materials, Inventory & Logistics

• - Operate forklifts and material handling equipment safely and efficiently.
• - Manage material flow between production, freezer storage, and outbound staging.
• - Conduct inventory counts, cycle counts, and reconciliations to maintain inventory accuracy.
• - Prepare, review, and process Bills of Lading (BOLs) and shipping documentation.
• - Coordinate with warehouse and logistics partners to support on-time shipments.

Documentation, Reporting & Compliance

• - Complete accurate production reports, downtime logs, and shift summaries.
• - Provide written and verbal updates on production status, staffing, safety, quality, and equipment issues.
• - Ensure production records meet internal, customer, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
• - Support audits, inspections, and corrective action activities as required.

Safety, Quality & Cold Chain Integrity

• - Promote and enforce a strong safety culture throughout the shift.
• - Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and cold chain standards.
• - Immediately address unsafe conditions or behaviors and escalate as required.
• - Maintain proper use of PPE and adherence to site safety requirements.

Requirements

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• - High school diploma or GED required.
• - Minimum 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, food processing, frozen, or cold storage operations.
• - Demonstrated experience in a lead, senior operator, or working lead role.
• - Proven ability to lead teams while actively performing production work (player-coach).
• - Forklift experience and willingness to maintain certification.
• - Strong working knowledge of production equipment, material handling, and inventory processes.
• - Ability to work in cold and freezer environments for extended periods.
• - Willingness to work overtime and provide occasional cross-shift coverage.

Preferred Qualifications

• - Experience in frozen or refrigerated food manufacturing environments.
• - Familiarity with self-freezing, batch processing, or continuous production systems.
• - Experience supporting startup or rapid scale-up operations.
• - Exposure to Lean manufacturing, standard work, or continuous improvement methodologies.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• - Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.
• - Frequent operation of forklifts and industrial equipment.
• - Regular exposure to cold and freezer temperatures.
• - Use of required PPE.

Compensation & Growth

• - Competitive hourly wage based on experience and qualifications.
• - Overtime eligibility.
• - Clear advancement pathway into salaried Production Supervisor roles based on performance.

Rate - $28-$30/hour DOE