Area Leader

The J.M. Smucker Co.•McCalla, AL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Area Leader will lead a team at JM Smucker’s new Uncrustables® manufacturing facility in McCalla, Alabama. This hands-on leadership role focuses on safely producing quality products, meeting production goals, building an engaged and capable team, and driving operational excellence in a fast-paced, expanding operation. The role supports plant startup activities, including commissioning, qualification, and verification (CQV), and offers career growth potential. The position is 100% on-site. The Area Leader must be willing to work extended hours and flow to the work as business needs require, including supporting off-shift and weekend needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; Bachelor of Science preferred.
At least 2 years of manufacturing operations experience required; food manufacturing experience preferred.
At least 2 years of leadership, supervisory, or people management experience required.
Demonstrated ability to lead, engage, and develop teams in a manufacturing environment.
Strong leadership presence and ability to motivate and inspire teams.
Ability to make decisions quickly and act with urgency.
Proven track record of delivering results through others.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
Flexibility to support off-shift, weekend, or extended-hour business needs.

Nice To Haves

Food manufacturing experience.
Bachelor of Science degree.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and problem-solving tools.
Passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing talent.

Responsibilities

Lead a team to safely deliver quality products while meeting production goals.
Champion a world-class safety culture through visible leadership and accountability.
Drive operational excellence by eliminating losses, improving processes, and delivering results.
Maintain a strong presence on the plant floor, coaching and developing team members.
Set clear expectations, provide timely feedback, and manage performance.
Build an engaged, high-performing team through recognition and positive leadership.
Lead daily shift meetings, establish priorities, and make real-time adjustments to achieve targets.
Make sound business decisions that support safety, quality, service, and cost objectives.
Develop team members for current success and future growth opportunities.
Oversee training and qualification programs to build capability and consistency.
Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Technical Services, and Quality teams.
Support plant startup activities, including commissioning, qualification, and verification (CQV).
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, reliability, and efficiency.