Area Leader

J.M. Smucker; McCalla (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

JM Smucker's McCalla, AL facility seeks an Area Leader to guide a high-performing team, drive safety, quality, and production excellence on-site. You will champion a world-class safety culture, coach team members, and lead daily priorities to meet targets in a fast-moving operation.

The role offers hands-on leadership, startup involvement, and strong growth potential within a beloved consumer brand, with opportunities to influence culture and performance on the plant floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Bachelor of Science preferred.
• 2+ years of manufacturing operations experience required; food manufacturing preferred.
• 2+ years of leadership, supervisory, or people management experience required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, engage, and develop teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and problem-solving tools.
• Ability to make decisions quickly and act with urgency.
• Proven track record of delivering results through others.
• Passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing talent.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Flexibility to support off-shift, weekend, or extended-hour business needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to safely deliver quality products while meeting production goals.
• Champion a world-class safety culture through visible leadership and accountability.
• Drive operational excellence by eliminating losses, improving processes, and delivering results.
• Maintain a strong presence on the plant floor, coaching and developing team members.
• Set clear expectations, provide timely feedback, and manage performance.
• Build an engaged, high-performing team through recognition and positive leadership.
• Lead daily shift meetings, establish priorities, and make real-time adjustments to achieve targets.
• Make sound business decisions that support safety, quality, service, and cost objectives.
• Develop team members for current success and future growth opportunities.
• Oversee training and qualification programs to build capability and consistency.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Technical Services, and Quality teams.
• Support plant startup activities, including commissioning, qualification, and verification (CQV).
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, reliability, and efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Lean Manufacturing

Problem-solving

Communication

Coaching & development

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Bachelor of Science preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Your Opportunity as the Area Leader

Ready to make an impact at one of JM Smucker's newest manufacturing facilities? As an Area Leader, you'll lead a high-performing team, drive operational excellence, and help bring America's favorite crustless sandwich to families across the country. This is a hands‑on leadership opportunity with strong career growth potential in a fast‑paced, expanding operation.

At our new McCalla facility, you'll help shape culture, build teams, and drive performance while growing your leadership career with one of the most recognized brands in food manufacturing. Bring your passion, leadership, and ideas, and help us build the future of Uncrustables®!

Location: McCalla, AL | Uncrustables® Manufacturing Plant

Work Arrangements: 100% On-site

Willingness to work extended hours and flow to the work as business needs require

In this role you will:

• Lead a team to safely deliver quality products while meeting production goals.
• Champion a world‑class safety culture through visible leadership and accountability.
• Drive operational excellence by eliminating losses, improving processes, and delivering results.
• Maintain a strong presence on the plant floor, coaching and developing team members.
• Set clear expectations, provide timely feedback, and manage performance.
• Build an engaged, high‑performing team through recognition and positive leadership.
• Lead daily shift meetings, establish priorities, and make real‑time adjustments to achieve targets.
• Make sound business decisions that support safety, quality, service, and cost objectives.
• Develop team members for current success and future growth opportunities.
• Oversee training and qualification programs to build capability and consistency.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Operations, Engineering, Technical Services, and Quality teams.
• Support plant startup activities, including commissioning, qualification, and verification (CQV).
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, reliability, and efficiency.

What we're looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required; Bachelor of Science preferred.
• 2+ years of manufacturing operations experience required; food manufacturing preferred.
• 2+ years of leadership, supervisory, or people management experience required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, engage, and develop teams in a manufacturing environment.

Additional skills and experience that will help you succeed:

• Strong leadership presence with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and problem‑solving tools.
• Ability to make decisions quickly and act with urgency.
• Proven track record of delivering results through others.
• Passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing talent.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Flexibility to support off‑shift, weekend, or extended‑hour business needs.

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs , and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn®

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.