Production Lead, Manufacturing

Talent Acquisition Team•Warwick, RI

2d•$23•Onsite

About The Position

THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN CELEBRATING STUDENT MILESTONES – HERFF JONES Herff Jones is the leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. Herff Jones' products include class rings and jewelry, caps and gowns, diplomas, frames, announcements, and Greek accessories as well as motivation and recognition programs. Since 1920, our team has worked alongside students, faculty, and staff on campuses nationwide to help build a stronger community and celebrate student milestones. Our continued success relies on hiring extraordinary talent, with a passion for making a difference and eagerness to roll up the sleeves, to help us write the story of our next 100 years. Your Opportunity: The Herff Jones production team is looking for a Production Lead, Manufacturing to join our HJ Family. Here's How You Will Make an Impact: As a Production Lead, you will play a critical role in keeping manufacturing operations running smoothly, efficiently, and safely. You will directly support the Operations Manager by coordinating people, processes, and priorities on the production floor to ensure customer commitments are met. By proactively moving work through the system, removing roadblocks, and coaching employees, you will drive on-time delivery, maintain high-quality standards, and contribute to a positive, accountable, and results-driven work environment. Your leadership and hands-on involvement will help improve workflow efficiency, support continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure production goals are achieved even during peak demand periods.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required; additional technical or manufacturing-related training preferred.
2+ years of experience in a manufacturing or production environment; prior lead or supervisory experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, expedite production, and keep multiple jobs moving simultaneously.
Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
Proven ability to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Working knowledge of production workflows, quality standards, and safety requirements.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability to learn production and reporting systems.
Flexibility to work overtime and weekends during peak production periods.
A continuous improvement mindset with a proactive, hands-on leadership approach.
Physical ability to lift up to 40 lbs., stand and walk for extended periods, and perform visual quality inspections in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Responsibilities

Coordinate and monitor daily production workflow to ensure schedules, quotas, and delivery targets are met.
Actively move, expedite, and prioritize production work through the department to prevent delays and minimize downtime.
Track order status, adjust work priorities, and escalate issues as needed to maintain production flow.
Remove obstacles that slow production by addressing material shortages, staffing gaps, equipment issues, or process constraints.
Complete, review, and communicate daily production metrics and reports to the Operations Manager.
Assist with short-term production planning, labor allocation, and capacity adjustments.
Conduct in-process quality checks and ensure products meet established specifications and standards.
Identify quality issues early, implement corrective actions, and coordinate with upstream and downstream teams.
Support lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Enforce safety policies and OSHA requirements, ensuring safe work practices, PPE usage, and proper equipment handling.
Perform routine safety checks and address unsafe conditions immediately.
Serve as the first point of contact for production employees, providing guidance, problem-solving, and direction.
Provide hands-on coaching, cross-training, and day-to-day performance feedback to team members.
Promote teamwork, accountability, and a positive workplace culture.
Coordinate with Customer Service, planning, and other departments to resolve order, scheduling, or priority conflicts.
Maintain adequate tools, materials, and supplies to support uninterrupted production.
Manage flags, change requests, and work-order updates, ensuring timely follow-through and closure.