Line Leader

Hilton Foods; Brantford; On-site; CAD 41,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Hilton Foods Canada is seeking a Line Leader to coordinate daily production on-site in Ontario. You will drive production schedules, ensure food safety and quality, manage labour and materials, and coach a frontline team to meet targets.

Ideal candidates have 2–5 years in manufacturing or food processing, knowledge of HACCP and GMP, and a proven ability to improve yield, reduce waste, and maintain safety and traceability across the line.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of manufacturing, food processing, packaging, or production experience.
• Knowledge of HACCP systems and food safety programs.
• Knowledge of traceability and recall procedures.
• Experience leading frontline production teams.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, GMP, HACCP, sanitation, and quality systems.
• Experience in KPI-driven manufacturing environments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.

Responsibilities

• Execute daily production plans to meet output, customer service, quality, and cost objectives.
• Monitor line performance and ensure production schedules are achieved within established timeframes.
• Manage labour, materials, equipment, and resources to maximize productivity and minimize waste.
• Monitor KPIs including productivity, yield, downtime, labour efficiency, quality, and safety.
• Identify production bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to maintain operational flow.
• Escalate significant operational issues, equipment failures, quality concerns, or staffing challenges to the Production Supervisor/Manager.
• Complete production documentation, records, and reporting accurately and on time.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs, work instructions, and company policies.
• Provide daily leadership and coaching to production team members.
• Conduct pre-shift meetings, line huddles, and shift handovers to communicate priorities and expectations.
• Support onboarding and training of new employees.
• Monitor employee performance, attendance, and productivity.
• Provide constructive feedback and coaching to improve individual and team performance.
• Identify high-potential employees and support development plans.
• Promote a positive, inclusive workplace culture.
• Foster collaboration across functions.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

HACCP knowledge

Traceability knowledge

Frontline leadership

Communication skills

Education

Post-secondary education in Operations, Manufacturing, Food Science, or related discipline

Tools

ERP systems

MES

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Line Leader

Salary Range: CAD$29:63 – 37:03 per hour

Working Type: On-Site

PURPOSE OF ROLE

The Line Leader is responsible for coordinating and leading daily production line operations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing performance. The role drives achievement of production schedules, food safety, quality, people, and cost objectives while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, teamwork, and operational excellence. The Line Leader provides day-to-day leadership, coaching, and support to production team members to ensure operational targets are consistently met.

Key Accountabilities

Production Operations & Performance

• Execute daily production plans to meet output, customer service, quality, and cost objectives.
• Monitor line performance and ensure production schedules are achieved within established timeframes.
• Manage labour, materials, equipment, and resources to maximize productivity and minimize waste.
• Monitor and communicate key performance indicators (KPIs) including productivity, yield, downtime, labour efficiency, quality, and safety.
• Identify production bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to maintain operational flow.
• Escalate significant operational issues, equipment failures, quality concerns, or staffing challenges to the Production Supervisor/Manager.
• Complete production documentation, records, and reporting accurately and on time.
• Ensure adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and company policies.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Provide daily leadership, coaching, guidance, and support to production team members.
• Conduct pre-shift meetings, line huddles, and shift handovers to communicate priorities and expectations.
• Support onboarding and training of new employees.
• Monitor employee performance, attendance, and productivity.
• Provide constructive feedback and coaching to improve individual and team performance.
• Identify high-potential employees and support employee development plans.
• Promote a positive, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture.
• Foster collaboration across Production, Quality, Maintenance, Warehousing, and Operations functions.

Food Safety & Quality

• Ensure compliance with HACCP, GMP, food safety, quality, sanitation, and regulatory requirements.
• Verify products are manufactured according to specification and customer requirements.
• Monitor Critical Control Points (CCPs) and Quality Control Points (QCPs).
• Ensure traceability and product integrity requirements are always maintained.
• Investigate quality concerns and support corrective and preventive actions.
• Support internal audits, customer audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Maintain accurate production and quality records.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote and reinforce a strong safety-first culture.
• Ensure compliance with Occupational Health & Safety requirements, company safety procedures, and safe work practices.
• Conduct pre-operational inspections and safety checks.
• Identify hazards, near misses, unsafe conditions, and safety improvement opportunities.
• Participate in incident investigations and corrective action activities.
• Ensure proper use of PPE and safe equipment operation.
• Work closely with Health & Safety representatives and management to improve workplace safety performance.
• Support compliance with WHMIS requirements and food manufacturing safety standards.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead and participate in continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support Lean Manufacturing, waste reduction, efficiency improvement, and cost‑saving activities.
• Participate in root cause analysis and problem‑solving exercises.
• Monitor line performance trends and recommend improvements.
• Support implementation of process improvements that enhance safety, quality, service, and productivity.

Essential

KEY EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• 2-5 years of manufacturing, food processing, packaging, or production experience.
• Knowledge of HACCP systems and food safety programs.
• Knowledge of traceability and recall procedures.
• Previous experience leading or coordinating frontline production teams.
• Strong understanding of food safety, GMP, HACCP, sanitation, and quality systems.
• Experience working in KPI-driven manufacturing environments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated problem‑solving and decision‑making ability.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced production environment.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable

• Experience with ERP, MES, or production management systems.
• Knowledge of CFIA regulations.
• Post‑secondary education in Operations, Manufacturing, Food Science, or related discipline.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience.

Hilton Foods Canada is committed to building a culture of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees. At Hilton Foods Canada, we welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise the HR representative. All requests for an accommodation and the accommodation measures will be handled in a confidential manner at all times.