Production Shift Lead/Planner

GM • Bedford, IN

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Production Shift Leader / Planner is responsible for driving safe, high-quality, and efficient manufacturing execution at Bedford. This position leads day-to-day operations for an assigned production area while also owning short-range planning, manpower coordination, workflow alignment, and execution discipline needed to meet business objectives. The role requires a strong floor presence, sound judgment, and the ability to lead in a fast-paced union manufacturing environment. The Production Shift Leader / Planner works closely with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Materials, Industrial Engineering, HR/LR, Safety, and other cross-functional partners to deliver results in safety, people, quality, responsiveness, cost, and environmental performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field, or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment (casting, machining, or automotive strongly preferred).
• 2+ years of supervisory, lead, or strong informal leadership experience (leading projects, cross‑functional teams, or IE teams).
• Proven ability to influence cross‑functional teams (production, maintenance, quality, HR/LR) and drive change.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex analyses and recommendations clearly to hourly and salaried audiences.

Nice To Haves

• 2+ years of experience specifically in die casting and/or machining within automotive or a unionized manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience as a Lead or similar role with responsibility for mentoring/supervising other manufacturing employees.
• Demonstrated experience and/or knowledge of GM Global Manufacturing System (GMS) and related standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily manufacturing operations in assigned area with a strong focus on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people leadership.
• Build and execute production plans that align manpower, equipment readiness, material availability, and operating priorities.
• Monitor production performance, identify gaps, and drive timely countermeasures to recover misses and reduce disruption.
• Escalate issues quickly and effectively, ensuring roadblocks are addressed with urgency and clear ownership.
• Maintain a strong presence on the manufacturing floor to coach employees, verify standards, and support problem resolution where the work occurs.
• Lead and develop hourly employees and team leaders through coaching, feedback, accountability, recognition, and performance management.
• Mentor, train, and develop Group Leaders to strengthen leadership capability, standardize execution, and build bench strength across the organization.
• Foster an environment of teamwork, inclusion, respect, and cooperation across the organization.
• Support compliance with plant policies, safety requirements, good housekeeping expectations, and applicable labor agreements.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering to improve process capability, reduce defects, and sustain standardized work.
• Work with Maintenance and Materials teams to support uptime, change execution, inventory flow, and schedule stability.
• Drive continuous improvement using GM manufacturing principles, standard work, and practical problem-solving methods.
• Track and communicate key operating metrics, action plans, and risks to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ensure employee timekeeping, attendance follow-up, training completion, and required administrative work are completed accurately and on time.
• Help build team capability by identifying skill gaps, supporting training plans, and developing bench strength for the organization.

Benefits

• From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level