Area Leader | Sewing Department

Polywood; Roxboro (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and HSA plan options

Dental and vision coverage

Life and disability benefits

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Polywood is seeking a hands-on Area Leader to guide daily activity in our Sewing Department. You will support the team, keep production flowing, and prioritize warranty and replacement work to ensure the shift runs safely and efficiently.

You will lead by example in a fast-paced environment, coordinate materials and staffing, and help mentor a manufacturing team across sewing operations, staging, and quality control.

Qualifications

• Previous leadership or manufacturing experience is helpful.
• Experience in sewing, upholstery, production, assembly, staging, material handling, quality, or other hands‑on manufacturing work may also prepare you for success.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations in the Sewing Department and support the team.
• Prepare assignments and ensure staff are in position by shift start.
• Communicate absences and new hires through Paylocity chat.
• Create staging lists and review overnight warranty needs.
• Maintain safety, cleanliness, and organized work areas.
• Ensure materials (foam, cardboard, pallets) are available for the line.
• Stage carts and prioritize must-ship, warranty, and priority orders.
• Monitor line for bottlenecks and provide hands-on help as needed.
• Coordinate warranties and ensure documentation before shift end.
• Record damaged materials and manage scrap reporting.

Skills

Team leadership

Production planning

Sewing operations

Warranty coordination

Material flow

Safety leadership

Inventory control

Problem solving

Education

Leadership experience in manufacturing

Tools

Paylocity chat

Job description

Description

Lead the Team. Keep Production Moving.

POLYWOOD® is looking for a hands‑on Area Leader to guide daily activity in our Sewing Department. This role supports employees, keeps production flowing, prioritizes warranty and replacement work, and makes sure the team has the materials, information, and direction needed for a safe and productive shift.

The ideal candidate leads by example, stays organized in a fast‑paced environment, and is ready to step in wherever the team needs support.

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m., plus overtime as needed

--------------------------------------------------

What You Can Learn

In this leadership role, you may build experience in:

• Leading and supporting a manufacturing team
• Daily production planning and employee assignments
• Sewing department operations and workflow
• Warranty, replacement, and priority-order coordination
• Production staging and material flow
• Quality, scrap, and inventory-control practices
• Safety leadership and department organization
• Supply management and restock ordering
• Equipment issue reporting and maintenance coordination
• Team-based problem-solving and continuous improvement

--------------------------------------------------

What You’ll Do

As the Area Leader for the Sewing Department, you will help lead daily operations, support your team, and keep work moving safely and efficiently. You may:

• Meet with Area Leads and the Supervisor at the start of the shift
• Prepare employee assignments before the team arrives and ensure employees are in their assigned areas by the second buzzer
• Communicate unreported absences and new employee starts through Paylocity chat
• Create staging lists and review overnight warranty needs
• Complete the daily safety checklist and help maintain a safe, clean, organized work area
• Ensure the line has critical materials, including foam, cardboard, pallets, and other needed supplies
• Stage carts and prioritize must-ship, warranty, replacement, expedited, and other priority orders
• Monitor the line throughout the shift, identify bottlenecks, and move people or step in to help where needed
• Collect sewn shells and monitor Sewing 5, Sewing 7, and Sewing-Warranty for replacements and warranty work
• Coordinate scheduled warranties, communicate them in the 9 Gals chat, and confirm all work is completed and documented before shift end
• Record and dispose of damaged or flawed materials using the scrap report
• Ensure button and slotted-board restock orders are placed and communicated correctly
• Monitor department supply levels and coordinate orders with the appropriate team members
• Report sewing-machine or other equipment concerns to Maintenance and submit work orders when needed
• Complete end-of-shift cleanup, material restocking, equipment shutdown, charger checks, and department security procedures

--------------------------------------------------

What We’re Looking For

Our strongest Area Leaders:

• Lead by example and show up ready to work on time
• Put safety, quality, and accountability first
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with employees, leaders, and support teams
• Stay organized while managing multiple priorities
• Pay close attention to production schedules, warranties, replacements, and material needs
• Take initiative to solve problems and keep production moving
• Are willing to work alongside the team wherever help is needed
• Adapt quickly to changing production needs
• Reinforce workplace standards, including attendance, safe work practices, and no eating on the line
• Bring a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and team-first mindset

Previous leadership or manufacturing experience is helpful. Experience in sewing, upholstery, production, assembly, staging, material handling, quality, or other hands‑on manufacturing work may also prepare you for success.

--------------------------------------------------

Work Environment

Manufacturing leadership is active and can be physically demanding. In this role, you may:

• Stand or walk for most of the shift
• Move throughout the department to monitor workflow and support employees
• Perform repetitive hand, arm, or body movements
• Bend, reach, push, pull, lift, and carry materials
• Work around machinery, production equipment, and noise
• Wear required personal protective equipment
• Work at a steady pace while maintaining safety, quality, and production expectations

You must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

--------------------------------------------------

Benefits

Eligible full‑time, non‑exempt employees may have access to:

• Medical and HSA plan options
• Dental and vision coverage
• Life and disability benefits
• Accident, illness, and supplemental health coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• Fitness and well‑being benefits
• Paid time off and scheduled paid holidays
• Gym membership benefits through BULLPEN, ROX FITNESS, & FIT CLUB

POLYWOOD® is an equal opportunity employer. POLYWOOD® evaluates qualified applicants without regard to characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.

sewing area leader, sewing team leader, production team leader, floor leader, line leader, production lead, area leader, team leader