First Line Leader

DuPont; Valley View (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

DuPont seeks a First Line Leader to translate site priorities into daily shop-floor execution, coach employees, and reinforce Core Values, safety, and quality through Leader Standard Work and visual management.

This role develops frontline leaders, manages staffing and attendance, and drives continuous improvement with DBS/OpEx, structured problem solving, and performance dialogue to meet safety, delivery, and cost objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; candidates with exceptional supervisory manufacturing experience may be considered.
• Minimum 3 years of manufacturing supervisory experience in a regulated environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily shop-floor execution with safety, quality, and productivity goals.
• Coach and develop direct reports through feedback, mentoring, and assessments.
• Implement Leader Standard Work and Daily Visual Management; track progress with KPIs.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, and attendance to ensure reliable area execution.

Skills

People leadership

Coaching & feedback

Leader Standard Work

Daily Visual Management

Structured problem solving

DBS / OpEx

Performance dialogue

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

MS Office 365

Job description

First Line Leader (FLL)

The First Line Leader (FLL) role is a people leadership and daily management role responsible for accomplishing safe, reliable, quality production through others. The FLL translates area and site priorities into daily shop‑floor execution, develops employees through coaching and feedback, and reinforces DuPont Core Values, operational discipline, and standard work. This role strengthens the transition from individual contributor to people leader by building capability in Leader Standard Work, Daily Visual Management, performance dialogue, structured problem solving, and front‑line engagement.

This position requires visible shop‑floor presence, strong organization, disciplined follow‑through, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while developing direct reports and improving area performance. The FLL is expected to use standard routines, visual management, and timely escalation to keep work aligned to safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, cost, and employee engagement objectives.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position will have direct reports and may additionally provide functional guidance to contract workforce, cell leaders, trainers, or other support roles as appropriate.
• Responsible for the performance management process within the Operations Team, including goal setting, performance measurement, recognition, feedback, coaching, counseling, accountability, and documentation as appropriate.
• Manages area personnel by providing mentoring, guidance, training oversight, skills development, and support for employee engagement and career growth.
• Builds team capability by role modeling expected behaviors, reinforcing standard work, developing problem‑solving skills, and ensuring employees understand how their work contributes to area and site performance.

Operational Discipline Responsibilities

• Set expectations and hold employees accountable for DuPont Core Values, including safety, environmental stewardship, ethics, respect for people, integrity, and accountability; model the expected leadership behaviors through daily actions.
• Maintain visible field presence and reinforce personal safety, process safety, quality, housekeeping, 5S, and operational discipline through coaching, observation, intervention, and follow‑up.
• Execute Leader Standard Work routines, including area walks, start‑of‑shift activities, daily huddles, shift handovers, operator round review, escalation, and participation in area or weekly production reviews as required by the business.
• Lead or support Daily Visual Management using SQDIP or other approved area metrics so the team can quickly understand whether it is winning or losing, identify gaps to plan, and take action at the right level.
• Use performance dialogue to review safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, cost, and people metrics; assign countermeasures, track actions to closure, and elevate barriers with clear facts and ownership.
• Engage in and champion DuPont Business System (DBS), Operational Excellence (OpEx), and continuous improvement mindsets and behaviors, with emphasis on value creation, waste reduction, standard work, and front‑line ownership.
• Coach employees and teams to solve problems using structured methods such as 5‑Why, root cause thinking, PDCA, point kaizen, and standard work troubleshooting; escale recurring or systemic issues appropriately.
• Manage time and attendance, staffing, overtime, vacation planning, and daily work assignments for direct reports as appropriate to support reliable area execution.
• Develop and continuously improve critical operating systems to optimize process design and execution, create value for customers, eliminate waste, reduce cost, and improve reliability and flow.
• Maintain, develop, and use team key performance indicators and visual boards to connect daily actions to area, site, and business objectives.
• Lead continuous learning and capability‑building efforts, including training, skills development, standard work reinforcement, and cross‑training needed to keep the area energized and performing at high levels.
• Establish effective two‑way communication systems within the Operations Team to share information, align priorities, engage employees, recognize contributions, and support the success of the site.
• Understand, support, and communicate company, business, site, and area strategic initiatives; help employees connect daily work to customer value, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.

Additional Position Requirements

Because this is a people leadership and leadership development position, demonstrated commitment to Core Values, personal development, employee development, operational discipline, and continuous improvement are essential and should be guided by Area Management as appropriate.

Required Qualifications / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, operational leadership, business, or a related field from an accredited university preferred; candidates without a degree may be considered with exceptional qualifications and more than five years of direct manufacturing supervisory experience.
• Minimum 3 years of work experience in a regulated manufacturing setting.
• Intermediate or advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 Suite.

DuPont is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or any other protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position, please visit our Accessibility Page for Contact Information.