Production Operator Lead

Niagara Bottling•Ponchatoula, LA

About The Position

This position collaborates with the Production Supervisor to support daily production-floor operations and help ensure that the shift meets safety, quality, and production goals while complying with applicable legal and food safety requirements. The role supports shift handoffs, production line readiness and changeovers, raw-material inventory, quality checks, production reporting, and downtime escalation. It also requires adherence to company and plant safety programs, Good Manufacturing Practices, and Food Safety Standards. Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function. The schedule requires the ability to work 12-hour shifts, day or night, on a rotating 2-2-3 schedule or another schedule dictated by production demand. Duties and responsibilities may change with or without prior notice.

Requirements

At least 4 years of experience in the field or a similar manufacturing environment; experience may include a combination of work experience and education.
At least 4 years of experience in the position; experience may include a combination of work experience and education.
At least 4 years of experience managing people or projects; experience may include a combination of 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 dictated by production demand.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist the Production Supervisor with daily activities of the assigned shift and ensure product meets safety, quality, and throughput standards.
Communicate with the previous shift about production-line challenges and opportunities to prepare for the shift.
Conduct walkthroughs throughout the shift to verify 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 to ensure correct inventories; 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 and bill of material information.
Support the Production Supervisor with hourly and/or end-of-shift production reports.
Use Efficiency Improvement Tools to understand and comment on line downtime and communicate according to the escalation plan.
Follow company and plant safety programs, guidelines, rules, and regulations.
Follow 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 coverage.
Vision coverage.
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, pre-paid legal services, identity theft services, car rental, and airport parking.
Tuition reimbursement, college savings plan, and scholarship opportunities.