Job Summary:
The Operations Team Lead is responsible for driving daily production line success by coordinating team activities, ensuring adherence to safety and quality standards, and leading by example on the shop floor. This role requires a strong focus on leadership (70%) with foundational technical knowledge (30%) to support structured problem-solving, performance tracking, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Safety Leadership

• Ensure all team members wear required PPE and follow safety protocols.

• Promote a proactive safety culture through presence and coaching.

People & Productivity

• Maintain productive engagement of all team members.

• Assign alternate tasks during downtime (e.g., cleaning, TPM).

• Report shift Touch Points within the first 20 minutes.

• Allocate workforce based on skills, qualifications, and demand.

• Mentor team members and support cross-training.

Production & Line Management

• Drive performance to meet or exceed hourly production targets.

• Lead and perform safe, efficient changeovers.

• Prioritize tasks around critical shipments and flow stability.

• Ensure tools are cleaned, stored, and retrievable.

Visual Management & Escalation

• Maintain visual boards with accurate hourly data.

• Escalate machine downtimes within 15 minutes.

• Enforce 5S standards and support Layered Process Audits (LPA).

• Document issues and corrective actions.

Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

• Facilitate structured problem-solving (e.g., 5 Whys, PSS).

• Track and implement corrective actions.

• Escalate issues following defined 3-6-9 escalation timelines.

Shift Execution & Handoff

• Arrive early for shift handover and communicate key priorities.

• Lead daily 5-minute team huddles.

• Ensure hourly boards are 100% complete by shift end.

Leadership Behaviors:

• Communicate clearly and respectfully.

• Lead from the floor and stay solutions-focused under pressure.

• Demonstrate integrity, consistency, and a continuous improvement mindset.

• Build trust through visibility and accountability.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or equivalent (required).

• Prior experience in a manufacturing or production environment.

• Demonstrated leadership or team coordination experience.

• Working knowledge of production processes, quality standards, and basic problem-solving tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in TPM, 5S, or Lean Manufacturing environments.

• Familiarity with hourly tracking systems and escalation protocols.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.