Area Leader

Colgate‑Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company serving consumers worldwide with brands in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our purpose is to improve the quality of life of our consumers through innovative products and community enrichment.

Travel required:

up to 10% of time.

Location:

Cambridge, Ohio, United States. No relocation assistance offered.

The Area Leader is responsible for effectively managing production activities for a specific area of the Plant and developing collaborative partnerships with CP colleagues. This role demands a high technical focus, driving equipment reliability and process stability while maintaining positive employee relations and delivering agreed‑upon business results.

The role includes daily production schedule adherence, customer service, and area financial performance. High technical proficiency is required to manage Quality, EHS, Labor Relations, and the systematic development of people and team technical capabilities.

• Manages people, materials, and equipment to deliver area performance objectives as measured by Plant KPIs.
• Identifies, recommends, and implements continuous improvement initiatives and manufacturing cost reduction programs, managing strictly according to TPM Principles.
• Tracks and analyzes variances associated with materials, labor cost, or finished products.
• Leads the execution of new technology within the production area and oversees the technical implementation of the daily production schedule.
• Recommends capital and operating budgets to ensure long‑term technical health of the area.
• Accountable for adhering to Colgate‑Palmolive, state, local, and federal guidelines related to EHS, Quality, and Regulatory standards.
• Empowers team members through continuous technical coaching, structured training, information sharing, and real‑time feedback.
• Conducts appraisals and delegation to ensure the rapid development of organizational and technical capabilities.
• Ensures effective communication and resolves labor relations issues within the area to maintain a high‑trust manufacturing environment.

• B.A./B.S. Degree.
• 4+ years of plant experience or equivalent academic experience.
• 3+ years of supervisory experience focusing on teamwork and production management.
• Ability to work flexible hours to meet the technical and business needs of a 24/7 operation.
• Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment (climbing, kneeling, lifting up to 50 lbs) and wear all required PPE.

• Degree in a technical field such as Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• Previous experience and high proficiency with SAP and digital manufacturing tools.
• Practical experience applying TPM, Lean, or Six Sigma methodologies to complex equipment.
• Demonstrated ability in relationship building, managing materials/services, and intensive coaching of technical staff.

Salary Range: $96,800.00 – $ USD. Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit‑sharing, and long‑term incentives for executive‑level roles.

Benefits:
Medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and a 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours), 13 paid holidays, and paid sick leave adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws.

We foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging and can be their authentic self.

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation is available for persons with disabilities.