Team Supervisor

USA Rare Earth, LLC•Stillwater, OK

About The Position

Leadership & Workforce Management Supervise, coach, and evaluate Operators I–IV, fostering a culture of safety, quality, and accountability. Assign daily tasks, balance staffing across workstations, and manage shift scheduling. Conduct training and onboarding for new operators; coordinate skills development for all levels. Provide real-time performance feedback and participate in formal performance reviews. Production Oversight Ensure production plans, work orders, and schedules are executed efficiently to meet output targets. Monitor machine load, workflow, and operator utilization; adjust assignments as needed. Provide hands-on assistance with complex operations, setups, or troubleshooting when required. Coordinate with logistics for materials availability and inventory accuracy. Safety & Compliance Enforce all plant safety rules, PPE requirements, and safe handling of rare earth materials, powders, and magnets. Conduct daily safety huddles and ensure adherence to LOTO, chemical handling, and equipment safety procedures. Lead incident investigations and corrective actions in partnership with EHS. Ensure processes comply with ISO/AS quality and environmental standards. Quality & Process Control Monitor in-process inspections, quality checks, and SPC data to ensure conformance to specifications. Review and verify production documentation, batch records, and traceability logs. Respond to quality deviations, containment actions, and root-cause investigations. Support engineering and quality teams with trials, first-article builds, and process qualifications. Continuous Improvement Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies; drive improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, or TPM tools. Lead 5S initiatives and maintain workplace organization. Recommend process, equipment, or workflow enhancements based on production data and operator feedback. Support the deployment of new equipment, tooling, and technologies. Administrative & Reporting Maintain accurate production records, downtime logs, and shift reports. Track KPI performance including yield, throughput, scrap, and OEE. Report staffing issues, training needs, and equipment concerns to management. Participate in cross-functional meetings to support plant-wide initiatives.

Requirements

Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to motivate and develop diverse operator teams.
Solid understanding of rare earth magnet manufacturing processes (powder handling, pressing, sintering, machining, coating).
Skilled in problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making in fast-paced environments.
Proven ability to manage workflow, prioritize tasks, and maintain high standards of quality and safety.
Proficient with manufacturing documentation, ERP systems, SPC tools, and basic Microsoft Office applications.
Experience Level: 5+ years manufacturing experience along with 2+ years in a leadership or Operator 3 role

Responsibilities

Supervise, coach, and evaluate Operators I–IV
Assign daily tasks, balance staffing across workstations, and manage shift scheduling.
Conduct training and onboarding for new operators; coordinate skills development for all levels.
Provide real-time performance feedback and participate in formal performance reviews.
Ensure production plans, work orders, and schedules are executed efficiently to meet output targets.
Monitor machine load, workflow, and operator utilization; adjust assignments as needed.
Provide hands-on assistance with complex operations, setups, or troubleshooting when required.
Coordinate with logistics for materials availability and inventory accuracy.
Enforce all plant safety rules, PPE requirements, and safe handling of rare earth materials, powders, and magnets.
Conduct daily safety huddles and ensure adherence to LOTO, chemical handling, and equipment safety procedures.
Lead incident investigations and corrective actions in partnership with EHS.
Ensure processes comply with ISO/AS quality and environmental standards.
Monitor in-process inspections, quality checks, and SPC data to ensure conformance to specifications.
Review and verify production documentation, batch records, and traceability logs.
Respond to quality deviations, containment actions, and root-cause investigations.
Support engineering and quality teams with trials, first-article builds, and process qualifications.
Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies; drive improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, or TPM tools.
Lead 5S initiatives and maintain workplace organization.
Recommend process, equipment, or workflow enhancements based on production data and operator feedback.
Support the deployment of new equipment, tooling, and technologies.
Maintain accurate production records, downtime logs, and shift reports.
Track KPI performance including yield, throughput, scrap, and OEE.
Report staffing issues, training needs, and equipment concerns to management.
Participate in cross-functional meetings to support plant-wide initiatives.