Area Leader, Plant

J.M. Smucker Co•Orrville, OH

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Area Leader is a hands-on leadership role responsible for the day-to-day performance of a critical production area in a fast-paced operation. The position sets expectations for safety, quality, and reliability across all shifts and supports a department operating on a 24/5 schedule. The Area Leader manages 36 hourly technicians across three shifts, three team leaders, and multiple functional leaders. This role plans and executes team work plans, holds the team accountable, directs engineering projects from conception through completion, and serves as a key member of the department leadership team. The Area Leader works with managers, plant engineering, technicians, process engineers, and maintenance coordinators to solve problems, improve production results, eliminate losses, and meet process reliability targets. The role also develops technician skills, monitors step-up cards, owns a plant safety key element, supports other parts of the plant as needed, and is accountable for improving departmental scorecard results. The position is 100% onsite in Orrville, Ohio. The schedule should support organizational needs and may include starting at 6:00 a.m. for a Daily Direction Setting meeting and flexing to off shifts as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; engineering concentration preferred.
At least one year of manufacturing experience.
At least one year of people-management experience in an operations environment.
Strong troubleshooting skills.
Knowledge of process safety and manufacturing safety protocols.
Knowledge of mechanical and maintenance processes.
Experience managing, leading, and influencing teams.
Strong organizational, planning, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Effective presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.
Ability to work with manufacturing leaders, technicians, engineers, equipment manufacturers, vendors, and construction or equipment contractors.
Ability to work independently.
Willingness to work a schedule that supports the organization, potentially beginning at 6:00 a.m. and flexing to off shifts as needed.

Nice To Haves

Engineering concentration in a bachelor’s degree.
Experience in food, beverage, or pharmaceuticals.

Responsibilities

Manage 36 hourly technicians across three shifts and support a department operating on a 24/5 schedule.
Own the safety, quality, and reliability of a production line across all shifts.
Manage three team leaders and multiple functional leaders on the teams.
Plan and execute the team’s work plans.
Hold the team accountable for individual and team responsibilities.
Direct engineering projects from conception through completion.
Serve as a key member of the department leadership team.
Work with managers, plant engineering, and technicians to solve problems and improve the department.
Identify losses and develop plans and strategies to eliminate losses in safety, quality, reliability, and cost.
Develop technician skills, from new hires through team leaders.
Work with a process engineer and maintenance coordinators to improve production-line results.
Support other parts of the plant as needed on a daily basis.
Own a plant safety key element and act as a safety role model.
Achieve and improve departmental scorecard results.
Monitor the progress of technicians’ step-up cards.
Meet or exceed process reliability targets.
Train technicians and explain technical material so it is understood and implemented.
Perform responsibilities safely.