1st shift Lead Production Worker

About Sun Opta

Sun Opta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and food service providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, Sun Opta fuels customers' growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, food service, and e-commerce channels across North America.

The Production Line Lead I provides first-line leadership over a single production line and is responsible for ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant operations. This role oversees daily line performance, staffing, productivity, safety, and quality while enforcing SOPs, GMPs, and cleanliness standards to maintain audit readiness. The Line Lead I serves as the primary point of contact between Line Operators and Shift Supervision.

• Supervise, direct, and support 4 to 11 line operators on an assigned production line
• Ensure line staffing levels meet production, safety, and quality requirements
• Monitor and enforce compliance with SOPs, GMPs, PPE usage, and food safety standards
• Maintain and enforce line cleanliness and organization to support audit readiness
• Update productivity and performance boards hourly and communicate results to the team
• Monitor adherence to the production schedule and escalate risks or delays
• Accurately record downtime, labor hours, waste, and material usage
• Run and review Oracle inventory and production reports related to the assigned line
• Assist with Oracle inventory transactions and material tracking as required
• Conduct inventory checks and enforce FIFO inventory rotation
• Verify correct codes, materials, and standard work are being followed
• Troubleshoot routine line issues and coordinate support with Maintenance, PMOs, or Supervisors
• Serve as a safety role model and promote safe work behaviors at all times
• Train, coach, and provide day-to-day guidance to line operators
• Communicate shift handoff information and operational updates to supervision and other shifts
• Support continuous improvement and Lean initiatives at the line level
• Assist with investigations related to safety incidents, quality issues, or production losses as directed
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervision

• Direct daily work activities of assigned Line Operators
• Provide on-the-job training, coaching, and performance feedback
• Escalate employee relations, attendance, and disciplinary issues to the Shift Supervisor
• This role does not have final disciplinary authority

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Demonstrated leadership ability in a manufacturing or production environment
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to lead teams in a fast-paced production setting
• Working knowledge of GMPs, food safety, and safety requirements
• Basic computer skills and ability to use production and inventory systems
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand for extended periods (8-12 hours)

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Manufacturing experience required
• Prior lead or supervisory experience preferred

• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple tasks
• Ability to read and interpret production schedules, SOPs, and reports
• Ability to identify line-level issues and escalate appropriately
• Ability to motivate and coach employees

• None.

Majority of work is performed standing. Must be able to frequently lift up to 25 lbs to 50 lbs and be able to climb and descend staircases multiple times per hour.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice

EOE M/W/Vet/Disabled