Lead Manufacturing Specialist

Basic American Foods; Rexburg (ID); On-site; USD 65,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Basic American Foods in Rexburg, ID seeks a Lead Manufacturing Specialist to supervise production, enforce safety and food safety practices, and drive efficient operations. You will model leadership, manage line performance with daily metrics, and lead staff with training plans.

The role emphasizes lean concepts and active involvement in continuous improvement projects. Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in industrial/manufacturing engineering and 3–5 years in a lead role (or 5+ years in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in industrial/manufacturing engineering.
• 3-5 years manufacturing lead experience, or 5+ years in leadership without degree.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety and food safety, model safe workplace behaviors.
• Lead line performance using daily metrics and staff guidance.
• Drive continuous improvement with lean manufacturing concepts.
• Manage staff training, 1:1 meetings, and shift communications.
• Coordinate site security audits and emergency response readiness.
• Improve processes using lean tools and value-added projects.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Data-driven decisions

Safety compliance

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in industrial/manufacturing engineering

3-5 years manufacturing lead or 5+ years leadership

Tools

ERP (IFS)

Excel

Job description

JOB TITLE:

Lead Manufacturing Specialist

DEPARTMENT

Supply Chain

REPORTS TO:

Process Manager

FLSA STATUS:

Exempt

SUPERVISORY ROLE (Y/N):

Y

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT:

0%

Job Summary:

The Lead Manufacturing Specialist is the first line of leadership at the facility, ensuring a safe workplace, compliant operations, and efficient production. The LMS will model and enforce safety and food safety practices. The supervisor will manage line performance driven by daily metrics and will provide day-to-day leadership for staff. They will work to drive continuous improvement by applying lean manufacturing concepts and support value-added projects.

Essential Job Duties/Key Accountabilities

1. Safety: The LMS is the example to their employees on workplace safe behaviors. They will utilize and put to practice the Hazard Recognition Plus method to identify hazards and implement methods to eliminate, control, and protect the hazards present in the production environment.
2. Food Safety: Consistent demonstration and practice of food safety behaviors. Assist in meeting customer requirements, including specifications and audit programs, thorough communication, documentation, and adherence to sanitation guidelines and GMP's, including the HACCP program. Maintains plant cleanliness to a satisfactory degree and ensures team members have the appropriate tools and training to execute all quality programs.
3. MUV Management: Collaboration across the site to reach budgeted line rates, prevent out of specification production, direct maintenance activities, manage raw material changes, and when necessary, ensures the use of the hold process (MRB) to prevent out of specification products from reaching the customer.
4. Staff Management: The LMS is the example of professional conduct in the workplace. Accountable for team problem solving, decision making, fair and timely disciplinary action, and conflict resolution. Meets fruequently with their staff 1:1. Facilitates the communication between shifts and teams. Owns crew training plans ensuring that proper back ups are in place on all lines. Compliance with Company policies and procedures (drug/alcohol, attendance, EEO, etc.). Responds to personnel issues as needed and supports thorough investigations and coordinates results with leadership team and human resources.
5. Site Security: Acts as on-shift representative for all emergency response coordination, and compliance with Company policies. Conducts regular site security audits.
6. Accountability: Improves process by following lean manufacturing concepts, company values, and company culture. Strives to continuously improve, leveraging the Basic Way tools and actively engaging in all continuous improvement tasks. Supports the identification and implementation of value-added activities and projects.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in industrial/manufacturing engineering
• 3-5 years manufacturing related experience in a lead role, or 5+ years in manufacturing leadership role in lieu of degree

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Should have knowledge of database software; payroll software (i.e. ADP); IFS (ERP) software; excel spreadsheet software and word processing software.
• Manufacturing and process knowledge
• Sound judgement capabilities, using data and risk to make appropriate business decisions
• Lean manufacturing knowledge and skills
• Working knowledge of workplace safety and GMP regulations
• Keen attention to detail
• Written and spoken communication skills
• Ability to evaluate problems, correctly focus the resources and make efficient decisions
• Strong leadership and effective management skills to direct employees in efficient operations
• Effective problems solving skills, including root cause analysis, data analysis, and A3 thinking

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Manufacturing Plant Environment
• Must move/lift up to 50 lbs.
• Hot/humid environment

Food and Workplace Safety Requirements

• All employees are responsible for upholding the principles of SQF Food Safety Code.
• All employees are responsible for immediately reporting any food safety, food quality, safety issues, or plant security issues to management for appropriate action.

DISCLAIMER:

Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.

At BAF, we are an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity and strive to create a supportive and inclusive community of individuals committed to helping each other and our company thrive. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.