Group Leader 1

Worthington Enterprises•Maize, KS

About The Position

Worthington Maize is looking for a group leader. The Group Leader is a frontline leadership role responsible for the consistent execution of standard work, real-time coaching of operators, and timely escalation of safety, quality, and production issues within their assigned area. This role provides daily floor oversight to ensure expectations are understood, followed, and reinforced Group Leaders coach operators through observation, feedback, and reinforcement of safe work practices, quality standards, and production requirements. When issues fall outside standard work or indicate process instability, the Group Leader is expected to pause and escalate to the Production Supervisor rather than rely on workarounds. The Group Leader supports the Supervisor through disciplined execution, accurate communication, and performance input, while developing foundational leadership skills in coaching, accountability, and escalation.

Requirements

Demonstrate leadership aligned with the Worthington Philosophy and strong interpersonal skills (The Golden Rule)
Adhere to and promote all safety policies; drive a culture of safety excellence within assigned area
Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English
Capable of performing physical, repetitive work, including standing/walking for full shifts and lifting up to 45 lbs regularly
Drive quality and production performance within assigned area, ensuring standards and goals are consistently met
Maintain accountability for accurate reporting, including production, scrap, labeling, and material counts
Understand bills of materials and production processes; maintain working knowledge of product lines
Demonstrate strong organizational, follow-up, and problem-solving skills
Effectively train, coach, and support employees, including basic performance evaluation and development
Communicate and collaborate across teams and departments
Support change management and continuous improvement efforts
Proficient in computer systems, including JD Edwards, Excel, and word processing tools
Mechanical aptitude
Basic presentation and communication skills
Successful completion of all required Worthington Industries Safety Training Courses
Intermediate reading, writing, and math skills
Minimum 2-5 years of experience in manufacturing / production environment
1st Aid/CPR Training, Emergency Response
Experienced in JD Edwards and L2L Transformation skills (JI, auditing, root cause problem solving, performance boards, etc.)
Completion of WI leadership training courses
Intermediate knowledge of MS Office
On the job training to enhance safety, productivity and troubleshooting skills
Continuous Improvement training

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day coaching and support to operators through floor presence and clear communication
Reinforce expectations, standard work, and proper procedures
Deliver real-time feedback and support training execution
Partner with the Production Supervisor on performance, training, and development needs
Model professionalism, accountability, and the Worthington Philosophy
Reinforce safe work practices and immediately address unsafe conditions
Lead daily safety discussions and ensure proper PPE usage
Stop work when unsafe conditions are identified
Escalate hazards, near misses, and recurring safety concerns
Maintain a zero-tolerance approach to unsafe behaviors
Ensure adherence to quality standards and standard work
Verify required quality checks are completed consistently
Address quality issues immediately and prevent defects
Pause production and escalate issues when quality risks arise
Promote a “right first time” mindset across the team
Execute production plans as directed by the Production Supervisor
Coordinate daily work assignments and support job rotation
Address routine production issues and maintain workflow
Escalate constraints, instability, or resource gaps impacting performance
Ensure accurate communication and reporting of production activities
Support continuous improvement and problem-solving initiatives
Identify opportunities based on daily operations and operator feedback
Reinforce and sustain standard work and implemented improvements
Assist with corrective actions and drive disciplined execution
Perform other duties as assigned