Operations Lead - Chicken Chips

Production Lead

The Production Lead oversees daily production activities, ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency targets are met. This role provides on-the-floor leadership by guiding Production Operators, coordinating workflow, supporting training, and maintaining compliance with all safety, sanitation, and quality standards. The Production Lead acts as the first point of escalation for production issues and partners closely with supervisors and cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Lead production line teams in adherence to safety, quality, and operational standards.

Maintain a positive and professional work environment that promotes collaboration and accountability.

Support training, development, and coaching of Production Operators.

Act as a role model for safety culture and continuous improvement.

Primary Tasks and Duties

• Assign daily tasks, monitor performance, and ensure production goals are achieved.
• Perform equipment operation and troubleshoot minor issues; escalate complex problems to maintenance.
• Ensure completion and accuracy of production documentation, checklists, and logs.
• Monitor sanitation and CIL (Clean-Inspect-Lubricate) activities to ensure compliance with standards.
• Coordinate with QA to address quality issues promptly.
• Track waste, downtime, and efficiency metrics, reporting results to leadership.
• Participate in and lead shift change meetings, providing clear communication of priorities.
• Assist with onboarding and cross-training of new team members.
• Perform routine production duties when necessary to support team throughput.
• Support special projects, audits, and deep-cleaning initiatives.
• Master all equipment to provide operator coverage if needed.

Essential Functions/Key Competencies

Safety Awareness: Adhere to and promote a safety-first culture by following established safety protocols and guidelines.

Quality Assurance: Execute production tasks with meticulous attention to detail to uphold and enhance product quality. Collaborate with the quality control team to continuously improve processes and minimize defects.

Leadership: Ability to direct, motivate, and hold team members accountable.

Problem-Solving: Identify issues quickly, implement corrective actions, and escalate when necessary.

Throughput and Operational Excellence: Collaborate with the production team to meet and exceed production targets. Identify opportunities for process optimization to enhance efficiency and throughput.

Professionalism: Demonstrate a high level of professionalism in all aspects of your work, including communication, collaboration, and behavior. Uphold a positive and collaborative team environment that reflects our commitment to professionalism.

Team Collaboration: Communicate effectively with team members, supervisors, and other departments to ensure seamless coordination in the production process. Actively participate in team meetings, sharing insights and feedback to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Physical Stamina: Ability to perform physical tasks, including lifting, bending, and standing for extended periods.

Time Management: Effective time management skills to complete assigned tasks within specified timeframes.

Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high safety, quality, and cleanliness standards.

Communication Skills: Basic communication skills to interact professionally with colleagues and supervisors.

Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and willingness to take on various production tasks.

Reliability: Consistent attendance and punctuality to ensure the continuity of production processes.

Initiative: Proactive attitude to identify and address issues or potential improvements.

Equipment Operation: Competence in the safe operation and maintenance of equipment, such as the chipper and stuffing machines.

Flexibility: Willingness to work evenings, weekends, or additional hours as required for special projects or events.

Qualifications

High School Diploma or equivalent required.

2+ years of production or manufacturing experience, with at least 1 year in a leadership or lead capacity.

Strong knowledge of production processes, sanitation, and safety protocols.

Ability to train and mentor employees with varying levels of experience.

Proficiency in completing production records and checklists accurately.

Physical ability to lift up to 50 lbs., stand for long periods, and perform repetitive tasks.

Must be able to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.

Benefits: Three Dog Bakery offers a comprehensive, and competitive benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, 401K, PTO, and more.

OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers.