Production Leader

Job:
Production Leader

Shift: Nights

Location:

Mars (Topeka, KS)
The Production Leader is a shift-based, front-line operations people Manager who efficiently improves Quality, Human Safety, and Product Cost Conversion while Engaging and Developing talent. The Production Leader is responsible for delivering operational targets and leading teams of, on average, 15 Shift associates. The Production Leader drives safety, quality, continuous improvement, performance management, associate development, team engagement, and operating results for their assigned area through shift-based leadership of a line or area that exists within a larger Value Stream organization.

This leader coordinate the short-term activities of the area within established guidelines and standards to produce the highest quality, lowest cost product most safely and efficiently while also partnering with the other members of the 24-hour Area Managership Team to deliver area continuous improvement and Mars Supply Excellence (MSE) program implementation. The Production Leader is responsible for building an effective team on his/her shift and in his/her area of responsibility and for managing the training strategy for both the individual associates and the team.

This leader will implement and enforce established policy and area and organizational strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Conversion
- Manage the efforts of multi-line, area, or technology operating teams on one shift to efficiently convert materials into quality products in a safe, secure, and sanitary manner within the product design specifications.

Change Agent
- Implement changes in methods, equipment, systems, and organization, as needed, to ensure that the objectives of the line/area are met and give input and recommendations for such changes by using a continuous improvement mindset.

Mars Supply Excellence – Lead or participate in one or more MSE Pillars;
Lead and support the implementation of Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and Autonomous Work Teams (AWTs) in area of responsibility;
Lead key connection points and own reliability data collection accuracy. Area Ownership – Collaborate with the rest of the Area Managership Team (Area Manager or Continuous Improvement Engineer, Continuous Improvement Specialist, Maintenance Coordinator) to create and execute the reliability strategy for the area of responsibility.

Coaching—Coach operators to build their functional and Managerial capabilities and drive accountability in safety, Quality and Food Safety, Autonomous Maintenance, and team engagement.

Line Operations
- Coordinate materials, staffing, and resources to support line operation and changeovers.

Standards Implementation and Adherence – Ensure standards are implemented on shift and in areas of responsibility through effective communication, change management, consistent reinforcement, coaching, guidance, and accountability measures.

Associate Safety – Ensure safe working conditions, behaviors, and mindsets through the direct implementation of Mars Safety programs and driving a relentless focus among a team of operators.

Food Safety and Product Quality – Ensure the ongoing Shift of safe and defect-free products consistent with the principles of Mars. HACCP proficiency is required; this manager owns ongoing training and championing of quality goals and improvements at the Area Shift level.

Associate Advocacy
- Manage associate relations issues and guide and direct the hiring, training, retraining, development, and motivation of Operations associates following self-managed, team-working principles with a minimum degree of guidance from the Area Manager or Value Stream Manager.

Engagement
- Responsible for facilitating and driving an environment of high associate engagement on the…