Molding Maintenance - Supervisor (Day Shift)

Polytainers Inc • Lee's Summit, MO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

At Polytainers, we create packaging that helps protect the food products people enjoy every day. As a leading North American manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging, we combine innovation, operational excellence and strong customer partnerships to deliver quality products and contribute to a more sustainable future. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Across our teams and facilities, we work together with purpose, put our customers first and continuously look for better ways to work. We create an environment where people are encouraged to share their ideas, empowered to take action and are supported in their growth. When you join Polytainers, you become part of a team that values accountability, collaboration and respect. Whatever your role—making our products, supporting our customers or improving how we work—your contribution matters. Together, we partner for success, win through teamwork and create packaging solutions for today and tomorrow.

POSITION SUMMARY:
Reporting to the Technical Manager, the Maintenance Supervisor provides leadership and direction to a team of 8-10 Maintenance Technicians, including overhaul mechanics, supporting a high-volume plastics manufacturing operation. This role is responsible for ensuring the reliability, performance, and continuous improvement of injection molding, thermoforming, and thermoforming case-packing equipment across the facility.
The Maintenance Supervisor oversees daily maintenance operations, including troubleshooting, repairs, preventive maintenance, workforce planning, and scheduling activities. The position ensures optimal equipment uptime, supports production objectives, and drives operational excellence through effective resource management and continuous improvement initiatives.
In partnership with the Technical Manager, the Maintenance Supervisor leads employee development, performance management, inventory control, safety compliance, and maintenance improvement projects while fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning.
This is a day-shift leadership position with responsibility for maintaining equipment reliability, maximizing operational efficiency, and supporting the facility's long-term growth and strategic objectives.
THE DEPARTMENT
This position is in the Molding Maintenance department which has 24/7 operations across four 12-hour shifts (7p-7a or 7a-7p).

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent required
• Minimum ten years experience in a leadership or supervisory role in a production environment.
• College Certificate, Diploma, or Degree in Maintenance, Plastics, or Industrial Manufacturing strongly preferred
• Good PC skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Fluent in English with good verbal and written communications skills.
• 10+ years of maintenance leadership experience in plastics manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of injection molding, thermoforming, automation, robotics, hydraulics, pneumatics, and electrical systems.
• Experience leading maintenance teams in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, CMMS, and Root Cause Analysis methodologies.
• Proven ability to lead people, manage priorities, and drive operational improvements.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a High Level of Plant and Machine Safety: Ensures all team members are trained and performing in a safe and efficient manner. Ensure accident/incident investigations are carried out and documented to determine root causes, corrective actions and following-up to ensure completion. Promote proactive identification and elimination of hazards. Correct unsafe acts or conditions, ensuring health & safety policies are followed. Regularly audit the Shop Floor to ensure compliance with policies and procedures and ensure that inspections are appropriately documented.
• Ensure the Achievement of Maintenance and Production Targets: Assign Maintenance to machines and assignments throughout the department, working with the molding shift supervisor to ensure that there is appropriate floor coverage. Troubleshoot production & equipment issues, escalating and documenting issues that they are unable to resolve to the Technical Manager. Understand shift maintenance and performance targets and how they contribute enabling to Molding and Toronto Operations objectives to be met. Monitor machine performance and make adjustments as needed.
• Training and Onboarding of New Team Members: Onboard new Maintenance Technicians and ensure they have appropriate resources for strong performance. Develop training plan and assign trainers, as appropriate. Consistently monitor progress and performance of new hires and offer resources, guidance, coaching, and feedback as needed. Report new team member progress to Manager.
• Supervise Shift Maintenance Technicians and Mold Technicians: Ensure that all team members are treated in an equal and fair manner, abiding by the company Standards of Conduct. Be responsible for the supervision of direct reporting Team Members. Set daily shift objectives and assist maintenance team members in fulfilling the outlined goals and objectives. Execute and implement personal development and training plans. Manage vacation schedules and ensure appropriate shift coverage during team member time off. Identify vacancies and work with HR to recruit and hire as required. Performance Manage as required and provide timely feedback to Team Members. Ensure appropriate procedures and Standard Work is established, documented and personnel are trained. Ensure cross-training and back-up support is adequate.
• Continuous Improvement Activities & Projects: Assist in the implementation of continuous improvement activities. Identify continuous improvement activities. Promote a continuous improvement culture.
• Assist Team with Preventative Maintenance and Key Responsibilities: Supervise and coordinate daily activities of Maintenance Technicians, Millwrights, Overhaul Mechanics, and Automation Technicians. Ensure timely troubleshooting, repair, and restoration of production equipment to minimize downtime. Prioritize maintenance activities based on production requirements and equipment criticality. Monitor equipment performance and implement corrective actions to improve reliability and uptime. Support machine installations, start-ups, and commissioning activities. Develop, implement, and monitor preventive maintenance programs. Ensure maintenance work orders are completed accurately and on schedule. Drive predictive maintenance initiatives to identify equipment failures before they occur. Review maintenance records and analyze trends to improve equipment performance. Maintain PM compliance targets and equipment reliability metrics. Lead root cause analysis investigations for equipment failures and recurring downtime issues. Implement corrective and preventive actions to improve machine reliability. Drive Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives. Participate in OEE improvement projects and production efficiency programs. Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities related to maintenance operations.
• Manage Shift Personnel and Perform Leadership Responsibilities: Coordinate with Manager, Shift Supervisors, and Maintenance Leads to determine opportunities for training, performance management, and shift programs. Responsible for the leadership of all maintenance team members on the shift, in partnership with Maintenance Manager. Ensure that all team members are treated in an equal and fair manner, abiding by the company Standards of Conduct. Manage and report absences, overtime, shift swaps, performance issues, misconduct, personnel moves, and other exceptions. Identify vacancies and manage day to day temporary labor requirements. Manage the vacation schedule in the Manager’s absence. Manage activities of modified duties personnel on the shift. Provide recommendation and input towards the Performance Improvement program including: Dealing with issues and providing timely feedback. Assist Manager in coaching and counseling Team Members as appropriate and required. Ensure that each shift you are responsible for is adequately staffed to meet the production requirements. Ensure adherence to standard work and provide timely feedback. Ensure cross-training and back-up support is adequate. Ensure Team Member information is correct and up to date; (address, phone number etc…). Identify and respond to all shop-floor issues arising among team members (i.e. conflicts, insubordination, safety, etc.), escalating any issues that cannot be resolved to the Manager. Acknowledge and support team members performing their jobs in a positive fashion. Identify training opportunities; manage the training plan and keep the Training Matrix up to date. Ensure supplies, inventory, and tools are stocked and in good repaid. Assist Manager with Performance appraisals.
• Planning and Inventory Management: Manage maintenance schedules and coordinate planned downtime activities. Maintain appropriate inventory levels of spare parts, consumables, and critical components. Work with suppliers and vendors to source parts and services. Control maintenance expenditures while supporting equipment reliability objectives. Participate in annual budgeting and capital planning activities.
• Administration: In the absence of the Maintenance Manager, scheduling time off for vacation, sick time, training, etc., for all molding maintenance team members. Ensure that all gaps are properly backfilled. Create and maintain maintenance schedule. Distribute shift assignments at the start of and throughout scheduled shifts. Ensure routine communications sessions take place with the shop floor. Provide Maintenance and CMMS Inspection forms and ensure that they are filled out correctly on a daily basis. Conduct shift handover meeting to communicate with incoming shift. Lead the production communication meeting as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED