Production Lead

The Production Lead 2nd Shift oversees the second half of daily plant operations, ensuring products are processed, packaged, and documented correctly, and that the facility is fully cleaned and sanitized for the next day. This is a hands-on production role working directly on the floor with the team to operate equipment, troubleshoot issues, oversee CIP and sanitation, and provide day-to-day leadership when the Plant Supervisor is not present.

The role includes several months of first-shift training to gain a complete, start-to-finish understanding of the production process before transitioning to the regular second-shift schedule.

• Oversee second-shift production from approximately 2:00 PM until completion each day.
• Work directly with production employees to keep the production schedule on track and meet daily goals.
• Operate and monitor processing and packaging equipment and assist with production tasks as needed.
• Monitor processing conditions, equipment performance, product quality, and production yields throughout the shift.
• Identify and troubleshoot basic equipment or processing issues and escalate more complex problems to management or maintenance.
• Help minimize downtime, product loss, and unnecessary delays by proactively addressing issues and coordinating resources.
• Ensure all products are handled, processed, and packaged according to established procedures and quality standards.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe production environment at all times.
• Communicate production status, issues, and any unfinished work to management and the following shift.
• Oversee and actively participate in end-of-day cleaning and sanitation for the plant.
• Operate CIP systems and sanitation equipment to clean and sanitize tanks, pipelines, fillers, and other food-contact surfaces.
• Assemble and disassemble equipment as needed to allow for proper cleaning, inspection, and reassembly.
• Verify CIP time, temperature, chemical concentration, and other required parameters to meet sanitation standards.
• Titrate cleaning chemicals and maintain appropriate concentrations to ensure effective cleaning and safety.
• Perform manual cleaning using hoses, foamers, brushes, and other sanitation tools as required.
• Inspect equipment and food-contact surfaces after cleaning to verify proper sanitation before returning to production.
• Identify and correct sanitation issues and ensure the plant is properly cleaned, sanitized, and ready for the next production day.
• Maintain sanitation equipment and ensure adequate supplies of chemicals and cleaning materials are available.
• Complete accurate production, batch, processing, CIP, sanitation, and traceability records.
• Follow and enforce applicable GMP, HACCP, FSMA, PCQI, SOP, and other food safety requirements.
• Monitor and document required processing temperatures, times, chemical concentrations, and CIP parameters.
• Ensure employees consistently follow GMP, PPE, sanitation, and food safety requirements.
• Immediately communicate any food safety, quality, equipment, or personnel issues to management.
• Maintain accurate, organized records required for plant operations and regulatory compliance.
• Lead by example with a strong, visible presence on the production floor.
• Train, coach, and assist employees with production, sanitation, and documentation procedures.
• Hold employees accountable for safety, quality, productivity, and adherence to established procedures.
• Make sound decisions when management is not present and know when to elevate issues appropriately.
• Work closely with the Plant Supervisor, Quality, and management teams to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and minimize downtime.
• Promote a professional, productive, and team-oriented work environment.
• Oversee and guide a small team of production employees (approximately four people) during second shift.
• Participate in initial training to learn raw milk receiving, testing, and handling processes.
• Learn and support milk separation and butterfat standardization activities.
• Gain working knowledge of homogenization, pasteurization, batching, and production scheduling.
• Support product changeovers and help manage production yields and product flow.
• Assist with filling and packaging operations, including changeovers and basic troubleshooting.
• Oversee batching of products, including flavored products such as chocolate milk, and ensure correct ingredients are added.
• Participate in production planning and help organize the back half of…