Production Leader - Nights

Mars•Topeka, KS

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Mars is hiring a night-shift Production Leader for its manufacturing plant in Topeka, Kansas. This shift-based, front-line operations people leader improves quality, human safety, and product cost conversion while engaging and developing talent. The role delivers operational targets and leads an average of 15 production associates, driving safety, quality, continuous improvement, performance management, associate development, team engagement, and operating results for an assigned line or area within a larger Value Stream organization. The Production Leader coordinates short-term area activities within established guidelines and standards to produce high-quality products safely, efficiently, and at low cost. The role partners with the 24-hour Area Leadership Team on continuous improvement and Mars Supply Excellence implementation, builds an effective team, manages individual and team training strategies, and implements established policies and area and organizational strategies.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree, or a high school diploma plus more than four years of experience in a technical manufacturing continuous improvement environment.
Experience and demonstrated capability in leading others.
Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
Understanding of major plant functions and ability to work directly with all levels and functions.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office software, internet software, and email.
Ability to succeed in an ambiguous environment.
Functional knowledge and understanding of HACCP concepts; HACCP proficiency is required.
Experience in plant sanitation practices and procedures.
Ability to deliver critical performance feedback and hold associates accountable to business objectives.

Nice To Haves

A degree in engineering, basic sciences, or a business-related discipline.
Previous direct people leadership experience.
OSHA experience or certification.

Responsibilities

Manage operating teams on one shift to convert materials into quality products safely, securely, and sanitarily within product design specifications.
Implement changes to methods, equipment, systems, and organization as needed, and recommend changes using a continuous improvement mindset.
Lead or participate in Mars Supply Excellence pillars; support Autonomous Maintenance and Autonomous Work Teams; lead key connection points and ensure accurate reliability data collection.
Collaborate with the Area Leadership Team to create and execute the reliability strategy for the assigned area.
Coach operators to strengthen functional and leadership capabilities and accountability in safety, quality, food safety, autonomous maintenance, and team engagement.
Coordinate materials, staffing, and resources for line operations and changeovers.
Implement and reinforce standards through communication, change management, coaching, guidance, and accountability.
Ensure safe working conditions, behaviors, and mindsets by implementing Mars Safety programs and promoting a strong safety focus.
Ensure production of safe, defect-free products; own ongoing training and champion quality goals and improvements at the area-shift level.
Manage associate relations and guide hiring, training, retraining, development, and motivation of operations associates.
Facilitate and drive high associate engagement.
Establish line and individual performance standards and goals, measure performance, take corrective action, and report results, with guidance from the Value Stream or Area Manager and support from the Continuous Improvement Engineer as applicable.
Use on-shift technical resources for preventive maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting of process and packaging equipment problems.
Identify risks and opportunities, lead on-shift incident resolution, prioritize escalated issues, assign resources, and make decisions to resolve them.
Establish open communications and pursue opportunities to broaden Operations teams’ and associates’ scope and responsibilities.
Advise on opportunities to advance line or area technology.
Participate in implementing improvement strategies to improve near-term line or area performance.
Partner with Talent Acquisition to recruit and select operations associates and ensure effective onboarding.
Mentor and support associates’ development plans, functional capability, and long-term career growth.