Area Leader

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 is responsible for safely producing quality products while meeting production goals, building an engaged and capable team, and driving operational excellence. The Area Leader will maintain a visible presence on the plant floor, support plant startup activities, and partner with cross-functional teams to improve productivity, reliability, and efficiency. The position is 100% on-site and requires flexibility to work extended hours and support off-shift or weekend needs as business requires.

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.
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 strong safety culture through visible leadership and accountability.
Drive operational excellence by eliminating losses, improving processes, and delivering results.
Coach and develop team members through a strong presence on the plant floor.
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 business decisions supporting 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 with Operations, Engineering, Technical Services, and Quality teams.
Support plant startup activities, including commissioning, qualification, and verification (CQV).
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, reliability, and efficiency.