1st Shift Production Lead

Jackson's Food Company; Muskego (WI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Jackson’s Food Company is seeking a Production Lead to support the Production Supervisor and coordinate workflow from the potato room through packaging. You will lead operators and technicians, communicate shift priorities, monitor run rates, and ensure quality checks and sanitation standards are met.

The role emphasizes frontline leadership, safety, and adherence to GMPs while driving efficient, reliable production and audit-ready documentation within a fast-paced snack foods facility in

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing, preferably in snack foods or potato chip production.
• Demonstrated ability to lead small teams and communicate expectations clearly.
• Strong understanding of GMPs, food safety requirements, and audit readiness.
• Ability to complete and verify production documentation accurately.
• Basic troubleshooting skills for equipment and process issues.
• Ability to train and coach operators with clarity and consistency.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to maintain professionalism in a fast paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the daily production plan and communicate priorities to operators and technicians.
• Assign workstations, verify staffing levels, and ensure team members understand shift expectations.
• Monitor line performance, run rates, and material flow; escalate risks to Supervisor.
• Assist in troubleshooting basic equipment, process, and material issues and report findings.
• Ensure production areas stay clean, organized, and audit ready.
• Enforce GMPs, food safety policies, allergen controls, and proper PPE usage.
• Complete and verify production paperwork, including batch records and quality checks.
• Ensure operators complete documentation accurately and escalate repeated errors.
• Support training of new hires and existing team members on equipment operation and safety.
• Maintain training checklists and communicate skill gaps to the Supervisor.
• Monitor raw material usage, WIP, and packaging materials; report shortages or variances.
• Oversee material returns to the warehouse and ensure labeling and documentation.
• Verify product quality during the shift (thickness, color, oil content, seasoning, packaging).
• Communicate quality deviations and support corrective actions.
• Promote continuous improvement with 5S and standard work initiatives.
• Serve as primary contact for operators during the shift and escalate concerns.

Skills

Leadership

GMPs

Food safety

Communication

Documentation

Training

5S

Troubleshooting

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Experience in food manufacturing

Job description

Brief Description

Jackson’s Food Company is the Snack Super™ brand powered by heroic employees and premium avocado oil. We stand poised to upset the snacking status quo forever. All employees support our mission of delivering a safe and quality product.

Mission

Jackson’s Food Company is the Snack Super™ brand powered by heroic employees and premium avocado oil. We stand poised to upset the snacking status quo forever. All employees support our mission of delivering a safe and quality product.

Position Summary

The Production Lead at Jackson’s Food Company supports the Production Supervisor by coordinating workflow from the potato room through packaging to ensure daily production goals are met. This role provides frontline leadership to operators and technicians, communicates shift priorities, and monitors run rates, material flow, and quality checks throughout the shift. The Production Lead reinforces plant defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by maintaining an audit ready environment, enforcing GMPs, and ensuring adherence to food safety and sanitation standards. Through consistent communication, hands-on leadership, and a strong commitment to safety and quality, the Production Lead helps drive efficient, reliable, and compliant production operations.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Support the Production Supervisor in executing the daily production plan and communicating priorities to operators and technicians.
• Assign workstations, verify staffing levels, and ensure team members understand expectations for the shift.
• Monitor line performance, run rates, and material flow, escalating issues to the Supervisor when targets are at risk.
• Assist in troubleshooting basic equipment, process, and material issues and communicate findings to the Supervisor and Maintenance.
• Ensure production areas remain clean, organized, and "audit ready" at all times.
• Enforce GMPs, food safety policies, allergen controls, and proper PPE usage among team members.
• Complete and verify production paperwork, including batch records, quality checks, metal detector logs, and sanitation documentation.
• Ensure operators complete documentation accurately and escalates repeated errors to the Supervisor.
• Support training of new hires and existing team members on equipment operation, safety procedures, potato chip processing steps, and quality standards.
• Maintain training checklists and communicate skill gaps or training needs to the Supervisor.
• Monitor raw material usage, WIP, and packaging materials, communicating shortages or variances to the Supervisor.
• Oversee material returns to the warehouse and ensure proper labeling and documentation.
• Verify product quality throughout the shift, including slice thickness, color, oil content, seasoning levels, and packaging integrity.
• Communicate quality deviations immediately and support corrective actions.
• Promote continuous improvement by identifying issues, suggesting improvements, and supporting 5S and standard work initiatives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for operators during the shift, escalating concerns appropriately.
• Support the Supervisor in maintaining team accountability for attendance, performance, and adherence to company policies.

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing, preferably in snack foods or potato chip production.
• Demonstrated ability to lead small teams and communicate expectations clearly.
• Strong understanding of GMPs, food safety requirements, and audit readiness.
• Ability to complete and verify production documentation accurately.
• Basic troubleshooting skills for equipment and process issues.
• Ability to train and coach operators with clarity and consistency.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to maintain professionalism in a fast paced environment.

EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• One to three years of experience in food manufacturing or production operations.
• Prior leadership or lead level experience preferred.