Production Department Lead and Trainer

The Production Department Lead and Trainer leads on-the-job (OJT) training and acts as the department subject matter expert (SME) for a production department. The Production Department Training Lead and Trainer will be responsible for coordinating department activities and executing training and development, including implementing policies and procedures. This position will collaborate and work with department employees as a hands‑on leader.
Currently hiring for the following departments:
Pouching, Laminating/Slitting, and Inno-Lok.

• Lead and coordinate daily operations within a production department, ensuring that machines are appropriately staffed, materials are staged including proper tooling, and that jobs are completed on time at the highest quality and with minimal scrap.
• Lead and coordinate all new hire training as well as continuing training for current Machine Operators in the department (i.e., Operators for pouching, lamination, slitting, rewinding, Inno-Lok, and/or fitment converting).
• Train department personnel, ensuring best practices are consistently understood and implemented. Provide hands‑on support to maintain efficient, quality production.
• Partner with leadership to provide input during the hiring and interview process for department roles.
• Support department staffing by helping plan and coordinate coverage for breaks, lunches, PTO, sick days, and providing support during hours when Supervisors or Managers are not on the floor (e.g., vacations, breaks, weekends, and/or Saturdays).
• In partnership with site leadership, assist with development of training content.
• In partnership with site leadership, create, implement, and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Demonstrate technical proficiency by leading setup operations, troubleshooting equipment issues, and operating machinery while minimizing downtime and improving operational efficiencies.
• Communicate with Maintenance Department to coordinate and execute scheduled and preventative maintenance on equipment.
• Maintain a safe work environment and encourage safety related communication.
• Assure that the team maintains quality standards through knowledge of product specifications and training of personnel.
• Take a leadership role in ensuring that product quality, production, and overall productivity meet or exceed established standards.
• Provide feedback to management concerning possible problems or areas of improvement, including opportunities to continually challenge and reduce costs elimination of waste, reduced overtime, etc.
• Participate in problem analysis and determination, along with corrective action implementation of internal and external customer complaints.
• Support the management of shift changes, ensuring an effective handoff of jobs and responsibilities between shifts.
• Ensure that good manufacturing practices (GMPs) are followed throughout shift.
• Review upcoming job orders to confirm that required materials, tooling, and resources are available and prepared.
• Find and capture opportunities to innovate and improve created value to customers and company. Coordinate inter-departmentally within manufacturing and commercial capabilities to achieve business goals.
• Partner with leadership on changes in business procedures and special projects including projects to more effectively leverage enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, improve production metrics, control costs, and support installation and implementation of new machinery.
• Partner with leadership to establish performance goals and hold the team accountable for achieving key production metrics, including maximizing uptime and minimizing scrap.
• As needed, support limited administrative tasks for assigned team members as defined by department leadership (e.g., PTO request reviews, timecard approvals, etc.).
• Ensure that all company food safety and quality assurance procedures are followed. Escalate any issues/concerns to management.
• Other related duties as assigned.

• High school degree or equivalent (GED).
• Minimum five years’ experience as a machine operator, preferably in the flexible packaging industry.
• Demonstrated strong mechanical…