First-Shift Snack Production Lead

Jackson's Food Company; Muskego (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Jackson’s Food Company in Wisconsin is seeking a Production Supervisor to lead production from the potato room through packaging, ensuring daily goals, safety standards, and KPI targets are consistently met.

This role directs workflow, manages staffing, and develops Production Leads and operators by coaching and training, while maintaining an audit-ready environment with GMPs, sanitation and proper documentation.

Qualifications

• Supervisory experience in food manufacturing, ideally potato chip or snack production.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, set expectations, and hold individuals accountable.
• Strong understanding of GMPs, food safety systems, and audit readiness.
• Experience with ERP systems, production documentation, and inventory control.
• Ability to train, coach, and develop Leads and Operators.
• Strong communication skills in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Understand daily production plan and assign workflow to production associates and technicians in alignment with the daily scorecard.
• Adjust staffing and line assignments based on skill level, production volume, and real-time operational needs.
• Identify potential production issues that may cause downtime and communicate them to the Production Manager, Maintenance, and leadership team by end of day—or immediately for urgent concerns.
• Troubleshoot equipment, process, and material issues and collaborate with appropriate team members to ensure run rates meet daily goals.
• Assume leadership and accountability for the production team, overseeing work performance, attendance, safety, and cultural alignment as outlined in the Jackson’s Chips Employee Handbook.
• Set clear expectations for Leads and Operators and ensure consistent follow through and accountability.
• Conduct coaching conversations, document performance concerns, and partner with HR and the Production Manager when corrective action is required.
• Provide training for team members on potato chip processing steps, equipment operation, safety procedures, sanitation requirements, and quality standards.
• Train and develop Production Leads to support daily operations, coach operators, and uphold expectations.
• Maintain training records, skill matrices, and certification documentation for all team members.
• Ensure areas are “audit ready” by maintaining cleanliness, organization, food safety, and environmental safety.
• Enforce GMPs, allergen controls, metal detection procedures, and contamination prevention practices.
• Ensure accurate completion of all production documents, including batch records, quality checks, metal detector logs, sanitation verifications, and downtime reports.
• Review paperwork for completeness and accuracy before submitting to Production Control or Quality.
• Ensure all electronic entries (ERP, downtime tracking, yield reporting) are completed accurately and on time.
• Manage raw material, WIP, and finished goods inventory in alignment with the production schedule and communicate concerns or variances to the Production Manager.
• Oversee material movements and ensure proper handling and return of raw materials to the warehouse.
• Monitor waste, oil usage, scrap, and yield performance, ensuring corrective actions are taken when targets are not met.
• Verify that product meets all quality specifications, including slice thickness, color, oil content, seasoning levels, and packaging integrity.
• Partner with Quality to address deviations, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, including 5S, root cause problem solving, and standard work.
• Support engineering in the qualification and validation of new equipment through “ready to operate” processes.
• Provide feedback on equipment performance, operator usability, and training needs

Skills

Leadership

Team management

GMPs & food safety

ERP systems

Documentation & records

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

3–5 years in food manufacturing (supervisory)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Jackson’s Food Company in Wisconsin is seeking a Production Supervisor to lead production from the potato room through packaging, ensuring daily goals, safety standards, and KPI targets are consistently met.

This role directs workflow, manages staffing, and develops Production Leads and operators by coaching and training, while maintaining an audit-ready environment with GMPs, sanitation and proper documentation.