Production Lead Hand

Mariposa Dairy•Lindsay, ON

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Mariposa Dairy is a leading manufacturer of award-winning cheeses based in Lindsay, Ontario. Our aim is to provide the highest quality cheese products in North America while fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement. We believe in empowering our team members to lead with integrity and drive operational excellence every day. At the heart of everything we do lies a commitment to integrity, a passion for continuous growth, and the resilience to thrive through challenges. What we offer: Dynamic Work Environment: Join a fast-paced setting where you can apply your expertise and contribute to operational success. Collaborative Culture: We believe in teamwork and win-win relationships, fostering an environment where together is better. Commitment to Work-Life Balance: Fair compensation, comprehensive benefits, and flexible practices to support your well-being. Professional Growth: Ongoing training and development opportunities to advance your career. Position Summary We are seeking a Lead Hand to support safe and efficient operation on our production floor. This position is responsible for leading the preparation, production, and quality control of one of our production lines. A Lead Hand may be responsible for upwards of 21 production associates and technical operators and reports directly to the Production Supervisor. Key responsibilities include ensuring all employees are following proper health and safety guidelines and maintaining an efficient pace to drive superior production output.

Requirements

Comfortable working with numbers and basic math.
Understand continuous improvement practices (Kaizen, 5S, lean manufacturing principles).
Reliable attendance is critical.
Must be able to follow SOPs, GMPs, and complete forms accurately.
Strong communication skills—verbal, written, and active listening.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing demands.
Flexibility in working hours, including weekends and statutory holidays, to support production demands.
Physically capable of standing for long periods, working in varying temperatures and humidity levels, and lifting (up to 25kgs), pushing, pulling, and repetitive movements.

Responsibilities

Embody and promote Mariposa Dairy’s core values (Integrity, Growth, and Resilience)
Oversee production line activities to ensure targets for volume, quality, and efficiency are achieved.
Monitor equipment performance and product flow; troubleshoot minor issues and escalate as needed.
Ensure adherence to production schedules and communicate delays or changes to supervisors.
Assist with line setup, changeovers, and start-ups/shut-downs.
Ensure compliance with all food safety standards (e.g., HACCP, GMPs, CFIA regulations).
Monitor product quality and ensure specifications are consistently met.
Enforce sanitation and hygiene standards across the production floor.
Identify and report any non-conformances; support corrective actions.
Promote and enforce adherence to Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requirements and company safety policies.
Conduct regular safety checks and hazard observations on the production floor.
Ensure employees use proper PPE and follow safe work procedures.
Participate in incident investigations and corrective action implementation.
Train new and existing employees on equipment operation, work procedures, food safety, and safety practices.
Provide ongoing coaching and performance feedback to team members.
Support cross-training initiatives to improve workforce flexibility.
Maintain clear and consistent communication with supervisors, maintenance, quality assurance, and other departments.
Document production data, downtime, quality issues, and staffing concerns.
Participate in daily shift handovers and production meetings.
Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce waste, and enhance product quality.
Support Lean manufacturing, 5S, or continuous improvement initiatives.
Encourage team input and engagement in process improvements.
Additional responsibilities as assigned.