Team Leader (Line Captain)

PepsiCo • Piscataway Township, NJ

19h

About The Position

At PepsiCo, our mission is to create smiles around the world. With a portfolio of more than 500 beloved brands—including Gatorade, Lay’s, and Quaker—we reach millions of consumers every day.
Our teams are thinkers, creators, and problem‑solvers who turn ideas into action. Guided by innovation and consumer centricity, we create joyful moments through food and beverages while empowering associates to do meaningful work and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve.
Wherever you sit in the organization, you’ll be part of a global community that values your ideas and gives you the opportunity to shape your career and the world around you.
The Team Leader (Captain) is an elevated team member role responsible for coordinating day‑to-day execution on a manufacturing line. Acting as the “quarterback” of the shift, this role aligns people, materials, and resources to deliver safe, high‑quality, and efficient performance.
While remaining a hands‑on operator, the Team Leader provides direction, coaching, and motivation to a team of 10-15 employees to achieve daily production goals. As a key member of the line leadership triad, the Team Leader ensures priorities are clear, issues are addressed quickly, and performance targets are met. This is an empowered role with a strong voice in daily decision‑making and continuous improvement—an excellent entry point into leadership at PepsiCo.
This is an excellent position to begin your career path at PepsiCo! Success in this role drives a greater skillset as a people leader while learning how each member of a team plays a part to drive a stronger, better, and faster business.

Requirements

• Experience working in a manufacturing or production environment
• Strong understanding of safety, quality, and operational standards
• Ability to lead peers and influence performance without formal authority
• Strong communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills
• Willingness to take accountability for shift performance
• Experience in a lead operator, team lead, or similar front‑line leadership role
• Familiarity with daily management systems (DDS, tier meetings, etc.)
• Knowledge of continuous improvement or IWS/Lean concepts
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive change
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Effective coaching, facilitation, presentation, and team‑building skills
• Ability to lead a team‑based approach to decision‑making
• Must have indefinite right to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree (Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or related field)
• Experience in manufacturing, operations, process improvement, or operational excellence
• Strong understanding of production processes and performance metrics
• Proven analytical and problem‑solving capability
• Ability to influence across shifts and functions
• Experience in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing
• Bottling, canning, or BIB line experience
• Lean, Six Sigma, IWS, or continuous improvement background
• Technical or engineering education or experience

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of coordination for the manufacturing line during the shift
• Set pace and priorities to position the team for success
• Monitor total line performance and adjust execution to meet safety, quality, and productivity targets
• Maintain regular, reliable, and predictable attendance
• Lead the line‑level DDS meeting
• Bring forward the top three issues from the shift, clearly articulating risks, actions, and needs
• Elevate the top issues from the shift, clearly outlining risks, actions, and support needed
• Ensure team member input is represented in daily discussions
• Support problem-solving and continuous improvement efforts on the line
• Navigate operational challenges and escalate when appropriate
• Support structured problem‑solving and continuous improvement activities
• Keep accurate daily records of downtime and machine operations
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and teamwork
• Encourage team participation through structured engagement systems
• Serve as a role model for safe, quality‑focused, and disciplined execution
• Elevate issues that impact safety, quality, or output in a timely manner
• Support on‑the‑job training for new team members and create a positive learning environment
• Operate all manufacturing equipment—including new technologies—safely and efficiently
• Perform preventative maintenance tasks
• Maintain a clean and organized work area using good housekeeping practices

Benefits

• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees