Department Lead - Manufacturing

Blue Diamond Growers • Salida, CA

14d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department Lead – MFG, in a non-supervisory capacity, provides functional leadership to a team of assigned employees to support MFG plant operations, including pasteurizing, milling and packaging processes. The role focuses on coordinating workflow, coaching, and developing team members to achieve production, quality, and safety objectives. This position ensures adherence to company policies, SOPs, HACCP, GMPs, and safety practices while supporting a culture of continuous improvement. All positions at Blue Diamond Growers operate following the same five objectives: first safety, quality, service, performance, and people.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 5+ years of general manufacturing operations experience, with at least 2 years of production line operation experience.
• Proven experience leading peers in daily tasks, coordinating workflow, and providing coaching or mentoring.
• Must be trained and have thorough working knowledge Blue Diamond Growers MFG work centers, SAP processes, HACCP processes and auditing, GMPs, and safety practices.
• Ability to anticipate operational challenges and select appropriate responses based on established guidelines and company policies.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to provide effective guidance, coaching, and feedback.
• Forklift certification required.
• Willingness to work overtime as necessary and directed by management.

Responsibilities

• Provide functional leadership to peers within assigned areas, communicating the daily work plan, assigning individual tasks, leading workflow, and ensuring tasks are completed accurately, safely, and on time.
• Assist with the training and development of employees, ensuring team members understand duties, equipment, inventory, and operational requirements.
• Collaborate with the Training Department to schedule and deliver targeted training and development programs for team members.
• Coach and mentor team members to improve performance, reinforce company values, and support individual growth.
• Lead and coordinate cleaning and sanitizing of production equipment, ensuring proper documentation and compliance with sanitation standards.
• Assist in writing, reviewing, and maintaining SOPs for assigned areas, ensuring team members follow standardized procedures consistently.
• Monitor individual and team performance metrics, provide feedback, and recognize contributions to drive engagement and accountability.
• Support problem-solving for operational challenges, performing basic troubleshooting, and escalating technical issues to maintenance, as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulatory requirements related to food and worker safety.
• Operate equipment and conduct equipment changeovers as needed to support team operations.
• Maintain accurate documentation of workflow, training, and performance to support production goals and compliance.
• Actively participate on committees and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance overall operational effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

Benefits

• In addition to working at the world’s largest, state-of-the-art almond manufacturer, we offer a safe and collaborative team environment, with numerous opportunities for free training and career advancement.
• Check out the BDG Benefits, Health & Wellness Guide HERE .

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees