Lead Production Associate - Bottling

Chr. Hansen•Wausau, WI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Lead Production Associate, you will lead daily production activities, support operators, and ensure equipment is set up and operating efficiently. This is a hands-on manufacturing leadership role focused on safety, quality, compliance, productivity, and continuous improvement. You will help the team achieve production goals while maintaining compliance with FDA, GMP, and 21 CFR Part 111 requirements.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Minimum of 2 years of experience in a food, dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, or related manufacturing environment.
Strong mechanical aptitude and equipment troubleshooting skills.
Experience working within FDA, GMP, and 21 CFR Part 111 regulated environments.
Ability to perform root cause analysis and support process improvement initiatives.
Experience using SAP or similar MRP systems.
Basic computer skills for documentation, reporting, and production record management.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Technical certification or Associate Degree in a manufacturing, maintenance, or technical field.
Knowledge of SMED, Lean Manufacturing, or Kaizen methodologies.
Experience creating or updating SOPs and work instructions.
Previous experience leading manufacturing teams.
Preventive maintenance experience in a production environment.

Responsibilities

Lead production line operators and promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and teamwork.
Schedule and assign work, prioritize activities, and monitor performance against production goals.
Train and mentor team members on equipment operation, compliance requirements, and best practices.
Perform machine setups, changeovers, calibrations, and adjustments using SMED principles to minimize downtime.
Troubleshoot equipment issues, perform minor repairs, and coordinate with maintenance teams as needed.
Conduct quality checks and ensure compliance with company policies, SOPs, FDA regulations, and 21 CFR Part 111.
Utilize SAP/MRP systems to maintain accurate inventory, production, scrap, and sample records.
Support Kaizen and Lean Manufacturing initiatives while identifying opportunities for improved productivity and efficiency.
Create and maintain controlled documents, including SOPs, work instructions, and operational forms.