2nd Shift Production Lead – Self-Freezing Operations

Nordic Cold Chain Solutions • Reno, NV

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This role is for a 2nd Shift Production Lead in Self-Freezing Operations. The position involves leading end-to-end production activities, managing teams, troubleshooting equipment, and ensuring safety and quality standards are met. The lead will actively participate in production work while also providing direction and coaching to the team. Responsibilities include executing production schedules, managing material flow, maintaining inventory accuracy, and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, food processing, frozen, or cold storage operations.
• Demonstrated experience in a lead, senior operator, or working lead role.
• Proven ability to lead teams while actively performing production work (player-coach).
• Forklift experience and willingness to maintain certification.
• Strong working knowledge of production equipment, material handling, and inventory processes.
• Ability to work in cold and freezer environments for extended periods.
• Willingness to work overtime and provide occasional cross-shift coverage.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in frozen or refrigerated food manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with self-freezing, batch processing, or continuous production systems.
• Experience supporting startup or rapid scale-up operations.
• Exposure to Lean manufacturing, standard work, or continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead all end-to-end production activities for the assigned shift across self-freezing operations.
• Execute daily production schedules and make real-time adjustments to labor, sequencing, and workflows.
• Assign and reassign labor to ensure balanced workloads and optimal throughput.
• Actively operate production and self-freezing equipment to maintain flow and address bottlenecks.
• Monitor production performance, downtime, scrap, and yield metrics throughout the shift.
• Escalate risks, delays, or constraints to the Production Supervisor with recommended solutions.
• Provide hands-on leadership, direction, and coaching to operators, mixers, packers, and material handlers.
• Support onboarding, job training, and cross-training of new and existing employees.
• Reinforce standard work, SOPs, and safe work practices on the production floor.
• Lead shift startup meetings, shift handoffs, and daily production communications.
• Address performance or conduct concerns through coaching and promptly escalate issues to management.
• Troubleshoot equipment, freezing systems, and process issues to minimize downtime.
• Coordinate with maintenance and refrigeration teams on equipment issues and planned work.
• Ensure equipment is operated within defined parameters and escalate abnormal conditions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
• Operate forklifts and material handling equipment safely and efficiently.
• Manage material flow between production, freezer storage, and outbound staging.
• Conduct inventory counts, cycle counts, and reconciliations to maintain inventory accuracy.
• Prepare, review, and process Bills of Lading (BOLs) and shipping documentation.
• Coordinate with warehouse and logistics partners to support on-time shipments.
• Complete accurate production reports, downtime logs, and shift summaries.
• Provide written and verbal updates on production status, staffing, safety, quality, and equipment issues.
• Ensure production records meet internal, customer, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Support audits, inspections, and corrective action activities as required.
• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture throughout the shift.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and cold chain standards.
• Immediately address unsafe conditions or behaviors and escalate as required.
• Maintain proper use of PPE and adherence to site safety requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive hourly wage based on experience and qualifications.
• Overtime eligibility.
• Clear advancement pathway into salaried Production Supervisor roles based on performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees