Production Lead; Processing 1st Shift

Are you ready for your next adventure? At Oregon Freeze Dry, innovation isn’t just a buzzword, it’s our foundation. We are a purpose driven company with six decades of expertise in freeze-drying technology. Best known as the makers of Mountain House © meals, we are experts in advanced lyophilization solutions that can help people live healthier lives. Our headquarters in Albany, Oregon sits at the crossroads of science and nature, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes that fuel bold ideas and transformative breakthroughs.

We’re driven by a commitment to quality, creativity, and continuous improvement, and we’re always looking ahead to what’s next. We’re proud of our legacy, but our future is even more exciting. If you’re passionate and ready to make an impact, Oregon Freeze Dry isn’t just a place to work, it’s where your adventure begins.

• Supports raw material handling, batching, mixing, cooking, and related production processes.
• Monitors critical process parameters including time, temperature, and product consistency.
• Ensures adherence to food safety, quality, and process control requirements.
• Identify, document and escape process deviations that could impact product integrity.
• Act as first on scene for safety, quality, or process incident by stabilizing the situation, gathering initial facts, and escalating promptly to supervisors.
• Observe daily operations to anticipate staffing, material, or process needs and flag potential risk.
• Lead and support team members in daily execution of tasks.
• Monitor compliance with PPE, food safety, and quality standards.
• Identify workflow issues, inefficiencies, or risks and elevate with clear, factual information.
• Assist across lines or production rooms within assigned area to maintain output and product quality.
• Communicate clear instructions and provide timely updates online or production room statuses.
• Support standardized start-of-shift routines, task organization, and workflow coordination.
• Record production data accurately and report anomalies or trends.
• Participate in problem-solving efforts and support implementation of continuous improvements.
• Provide hands-on assistance during staffing gaps or peak production periods.
• Provide day-to-day direction and support to Team Members and Operators.
• Reinforce standard work and expectations through ongoing coaching and timely feedback.
• Support onboarding and training of new employees.
• Fosters an inclusive, safe and respectful work environment.
• Provides support and ensures compliance with OFD policies and procedures.
• Champion’s OFD culture.

Hourly pay: $31.50

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 1st shift (6:45am–3:15pm)

• Frequent exposure to extreme temperatures
• Noise level in the work environment can be loud
• Exposure to various food allergens
• Constant requirement to stand, walk, climb, push, pull, reach, carry, and lift and twist
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and push or pull heavier with assistance.

OFD contains office, manufacturing and outdoor work spaces where this position is required to access and work. The position requires a person to be able to frequently walk, stand and climb; bend and twist; see, hear and talk; use hands to type, handle or feel tools, controls; use hands and arms to reach, hold and carry tools or items. This position also requires a person to handle environments of varied temperatures and with various food allergens present;

and to be comfortable at various heights.

• Generally, a minimum of four (4) years of experience in food manufacturing or related field, with a high school diploma; an associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Generally, a minimum of one (1) year of indirect leadership experience.
• Working knowledge of food manufacturing processes, SOPs, GMPs, and safety standards.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to share expectations clearly and provide collaborative, constructive feedback.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for team performance and shift outcomes.
• Familiarity with lean, continuous improvement or 5S principles.
• Ability to lead by example and model safe, compliant, and productive work behaviors.
• Experience…