Team Lead - Manufacturing

Padnos • Grandville, MI

2d

About The Position

The Team Lead oversees production and logistics operations during the assigned shift and reports directly to the Operation Coach. The role leads a crew of 7–12 operators and technicians, assigns work, adjusts staffing, coaches performance, and serves as the senior decision-maker on site during the shift. The Team Lead carries out production plans across Wire Chop, XRT, Alusort, and the Polisher; tracks output, run hours, and downtime; and records shift results.

The position performs and assigns preventive maintenance, completes hands-on mechanical work, and troubleshoots mechanical, electrical, and process issues. It also monitors machine settings, feed rates, product quality, parts inventory, and production performance, coordinating with the Process Engineer and other operations teams as needed.

The Team Lead implements off-shift quality testing and statistical process control (SPC), responds to out-of-spec results, trains crew members in testing procedures, and maintains test equipment. The role owns shift safety, including safety talks and enforcement of PPE, lockout/tagout, and guarding requirements, and provides complete shift handoffs and reports. The schedule is Monday–Friday, with weekends as needed, from 4:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• 3–5 years of experience in industrial, manufacturing, or recycling operations, including at least 1–2 years leading people.
• Industrial maintenance skills, including mechanical repair, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting conveyors, motors, drives, and processing equipment.
• Experience operating heavy equipment such as loaders, forklifts, and skid steers, and ability to become certified on site equipment.
• Comfort with computers, including email, Excel, production reporting, and machine HMIs or control screens.
• Solid math skills for production numbers, yields, weights, rates, and measurements.
• Ability to follow sampling and test procedures accurately and learn SPC chart basics, including averages, ranges, and control limits.
• Ability to multitask across several areas, set priorities, and stay calm under pressure.
• Proven ability to work with limited outside support, make sound decisions, and lead a team of 7–12 people.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with wire chopping, sensor-based sorting (XRT, LIBS, or eddy current), or scrap metal recycling.
• Basic electrical troubleshooting, PLC/HMI familiarity, or welding and fabrication skills.
• Experience with SPC, quality testing, or handheld XRF/LIBS analyzers.
• Formal maintenance training, a technical certificate, or an associate degree.
• Prior off-shift leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and support 7–12 operators and technicians; assign work and adjust staffing as operational needs change.
• Set expectations, coach performance, address attendance and conduct issues, and train and cross-train crew members.
• Serve as the senior decision-maker on site during the shift and escalate issues when needed.
• Carry out production plans and plan each shift around staffing, feed material, and equipment status.
• Balance crew and material across Wire Chop, XRT, Alusort, and the Polisher to meet shift targets.
• Track tons, run hours, and downtime, and accurately record shift results.
• Complete and assign scheduled preventive maintenance; document completed work and parts used.
• Perform hands-on mechanical work, including wear-part changes, belt and bearing work, alignments, adjustments, and minor repairs.
• Follow lockout/tagout and safe-work procedures during maintenance tasks.
• Diagnose and resolve mechanical, electrical, and process issues; determine when maintenance or OEM support is needed and document issues and fixes for day shift.
• Track repeat failures and share them with the Process Engineer for root-cause follow-up.
• Track parts used, keep the parts area organized and labeled, flag low stock and critical spares, and coordinate parts needs with the Process Engineer and purchasing.
• Monitor machine settings, feed rates, and product quality; make approved adjustments to improve throughput and recovery.
• Identify performance and quality trends, suggest improvements to the Process Engineer, and ensure operators follow standard settings and work instructions.
• Implement the off-shift quality testing program by taking samples, performing tests at the set frequency, and recording results consistently.
• Maintain and review SPC charts for measures such as purity, chemistry, contamination, and throughput.
• Respond to out-of-control or out-of-spec results by adjusting settings, segregating suspect material, and documenting actions taken.
• Train crew members in sampling, test methods, and SPC charts; keep test equipment clean, calibrated, and ready, and report equipment issues to the Process Engineer.
• Share quality and SPC trends with the Process Engineer and help introduce new test methods and real-time testing.
• Lead shift safety, conduct pre-shift safety talks, enforce PPE, lockout/tagout, and guarding rules, and stop unsafe work.
• Report and help investigate incidents and near misses; correct hazards or escalate them before the end of the shift; keep work areas clean and organized.
• Provide the Day Shift Operations Coach with a clear handoff covering production, downtime, repairs, parts used, quality issues, and staffing.
• Coordinate shared feed, material flow, and schedules with the Eddy Team, and communicate anything affecting its operations.
• Write accurate, complete shift reports for the next shift and leadership.

Benefits

• Competitive wage.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 100% tuition reimbursement for Team Members and 75% tuition reimbursement for dependents.
• First-time home-buying assistance.
• 401(k) match and profit sharing.
• Performance-driven bonuses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED