Production Operator Lead

Niagara Bottling•Opelika, AL

About The Position

The Production Operator Lead collaborates with the Production Supervisor to assist with daily production-floor operations and help ensure the shift meets established safety, quality, and production goals while complying with applicable legal and food safety requirements. The role supports production readiness, shift communication, quality checks, reporting, and production-line performance. It requires regular and predictable attendance and the ability to work 12-hour day or night shifts on a rotating 2-2-3 schedule or another schedule based on production demand. Duties may change at any time and are not limited to those listed.

Requirements

At least 4 years of experience in the field or a similar manufacturing environment; experience may combine work experience and education.
At least 4 years of experience in the position; experience may combine work experience and education.
At least 4 years of experience managing people or projects; experience may combine work experience and education.
High school diploma or GED.
Ability to work 12-hour day or night shifts on a rotating 2-2-3 schedule or as production demand dictates.

Nice To Haves

6 years of experience in the field or a similar manufacturing environment; experience may combine work experience and education.
6 years of experience working in the position; experience may combine work experience and education.
6 years of experience managing people or projects; experience may combine work experience and education.
Associate’s degree.

Responsibilities

Assist the Production Supervisor with shift activities and ensure products meet safety, quality, and throughput standards.
Communicate with the previous shift about production-line challenges and opportunities to prepare for the shift.
Conduct shift walkthroughs to check safety, housekeeping, and quality compliance.
Assist with batching minerals, if applicable, and prepare production lines for scheduled changeovers.
Order and inspect raw materials before changeovers, perform first-pass quality checks after changeovers, and return raw materials after production runs.
Verify discrete jobs in Oracle, the Warehouse Management System, and/or the Line Management System, including quality information and bills of material.
Support the Production Supervisor with hourly and end-of-shift production reports.
Use Efficiency Improvement Tools to understand and report on line downtime, communicating according to the escalation plan.
Follow company and plant safety programs, guidelines, rules, and regulations.
Comply with Niagara’s Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety Standards.
Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Benefits

Paid time off for holidays, sick time, and vacation time.
Paid parental and caregiver leaves.
Medical coverage, including virtual care options.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
401(k) with company match.
Health Savings Account with company match.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Expanded mental wellbeing benefits, including free counseling sessions for team members and household family members.
Family building benefits, including enhanced fertility benefits for IVF and fertility preservation, plus adoption, surrogacy, and doula reimbursements.
Income protection, including life and AD&D, short- and long-term disability, critical illness, and an accident plan.
Special discount programs, including pet plans, prepaid legal services, identity theft services, car rental, and airport parking.
Tuition reimbursement, college savings plan, and scholarship opportunities.