Lead Operator - Molding, Day Shift

ITW Medical; Washington (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

ITW Medical is seeking a Lead Operator to own the line-level responsibilities, perform real-time troubleshooting, and lead a 12-hour rotating shift in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The role requires 2–3 years of manufacturing experience and proficiency with work instructions, procedures, and production documentation, plus strong communication and training abilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2-3 years of manufacturing or production experience.
• Minimum 1 year of experience operating equipment or processes within the assigned production area.
• Ability to communicate effectively and train others.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical resource and subject‑matter expert for assigned equipment and processes.
• Lead safety, quality, standard work, and operational discipline.
• Conduct start‑of‑shift huddles and shift handoff communications.
• Provide real‑time troubleshooting and technical guidance to operators.
• Conduct on‑the‑job training and maintain required training sign‑off documentation.
• Partner with the Shift Supervisor to identify operational risks and elevate issues promptly.
• Provide hands‑on leadership to stabilize quality, throughput, and equipment performance.
• Make and communicate line‑level operational recommendations including start/stop decisions in alignment with the Shift Supervisor.
• Monitor productivity, scrap, downtime, flow, and process performance indicators.
• Coordinate work activities to maximize equipment utilization and schedule attainment.
• Maintain production records and documentation accuracy.
• Identify, contain, and elevate quality concerns.
• Support investigations and corrective actions.
• Champion and exemplify safe work practices.
• Address unsafe conditions immediately and elevate significant concerns.
• Maintain workplace organization and housekeeping standards.
• Track and communicate operational metrics.
• Support inventory and production transactions.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Equipment operation

Communication skills

Training others

Job description

ABOUT ITW MEDICAL

ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 300 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenue of $16 billion in 2025. The company's seven industry-leading segments leverage the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required. ITW’s approximately 43,000 dedicated colleagues around the world thrive in the company’s decentralized and entrepreneurial culture.

Job Description

ITW (NYSE: ITW) is a Fortune 300 global multi-industrial manufacturing leader with revenue of $16 billion in 2025. The company's seven industry-leading segments leverage the unique ITW Business Model to drive solid growth with best-in-class margins and returns in markets where highly innovative, customer-focused solutions are required. ITW’s approximately 43,000 dedicated colleagues around the world thrive in the company’s decentralized and entrepreneurial culture. ITW Medical, a division of ITW, is comprised of two highly respected brands- Coeur and Filtertek, supplying critical filtration and flow control solutions to global OEM's, serving Surgical, Infusion, Bioprocessing and Diagnostic Imaging end markets.

General Accountability

The Lead Operator is the technical subject‑matter expert for their assigned equipment, process, and production area. This role maintains hands‑on ownership at the line level and serves as the first point of contact for real‑time troubleshooting, process decisions, equipment issues, quality concerns, and operational support for production associates. The Lead Operator partners closely with the Shift Supervisor to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity objectives while leading by example on the production floor.

12‑hour rotating shift: 7:00am - 7:00pm
Week 1: Monday, Tuesday
Week 2: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical resource and subject‑matter expert for assigned equipment and processes.
• Lead by example in safety, quality, standard work, and operational discipline.
• Conduct start‑of‑shift huddles and shift handoff communications within the assigned area.
• Provide real‑time troubleshooting and technical guidance to operators.
• Conduct on‑the‑job training and maintain required training sign‑off documentation.
• Partner with the Shift Supervisor to identify operational risks and elevate issues promptly.
• Provide hands‑on leadership to stabilize quality, throughput, and equipment performance.
• Make and communicate line‑level operational recommendations including start/stop decisions in alignment with the Shift Supervisor.
• Monitor productivity, scrap, downtime, flow, and process performance indicators.
• Coordinate work activities to maximize equipment utilization and schedule attainment.
• Maintain BOJ/EOJ records, production documentation, training records, and visual management systems.
• Ensure adherence to work instructions, procedures, and quality requirements.
• Review and maintain production records and documentation accuracy.
• Identify, contain, and elevate quality concerns.
• Support investigations and corrective actions.
• Champion and exemplify safe work practices.
• Address unsafe conditions immediately and elevate significant concerns.
• Maintain workplace organization and housekeeping standards.
• Track and communicate operational metrics.
• Support inventory and production transactions.

Required

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum 2-3 years of manufacturing or production experience.
• Minimum 1 year of experience operating equipment or processes within the assigned production area.
• Demonstrated proficiency in established work instructions, procedures, quality requirements, and production documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to train others and provide technical guidance.

Preferred

• Experience performing equipment setup, changeovers, troubleshooting, and process adjustments.
• Experience in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading projects, training initiatives, or continuous improvement activities.
• Molding-specific process knowledge for molding area.

Competencies/Physical Demands

• This position requires some physical movement around the machine areas, and an operator stands for 90% of their work shift.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, or crawl; and talk or hear.
• The employee must frequently lift and move 10-60 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to work safely around manufacturing equipment
• Ability to wear PPE

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues' unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.