Operations Team Leader

Colgate; Cambridge (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive in Cambridge, Ohio, is seeking a hands-on Operations Leader to guide a team of Operations Technicians. You will drive performance, coach staff, and lead key programs such as Autonomous Maintenance and Operational Excellence to maximize equipment effectiveness.

You will manage daily activities, set schedules, oversee safety, quality, and compliance, and develop technicians' career paths while applying data-driven improvements across the line.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Machine, or related field).
• 3+ years of direct supervisory and management experience in a manufacturing plant.
• Experience managing complex production activities, resource allocation, and scheduling under tight timelines.
• Ability to work in a physical manufacturing environment, wear PPE, and support a 24-hour operation with irregular shifts.

Responsibilities

• Direct and coordinate the daily activities of Operations Technicians and manage shift schedules.
• Lead the Autonomous Maintenance program, drive action plans, and maintain peak machinery efficiency.
• Track and report KPIs including inventory loss/gain and yield variances to implement data-driven improvements.
• Ensure EH&S, Quality, and GMP adherence; lead investigations and CAPA activities.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Production scheduling

Industrial/manufacturing expertise

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

Tools

SAP

FPR

Google Workspace

Job description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programs that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Travel Required?: Travel - up to 10% of time

Posting Start Date: 9/30/26

On-site

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number#176416 - Cambridge, Ohio, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Join a manufacturing powerhouse as a critical leader for our Operations Technicians as we usher in a new era of robotic process automation and consumer goods production.

In this role, you will be the frontline driver of technical performance, team engagement, and engineering execution. You will lead, coach, and develop an exceptional team of technicians while spearheading key operational programs including Autonomous Maintenance and Operational Excellence to maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness and optimize yield. This is a role for a hands on, technically minded leader who thrives at the intersection of people leadership, data driven performance, and advanced automation assets.

Your Day to Day and The Future

Frontline Engineering and People Leadership

Direct and coordinate the daily activities of Operations Technicians. Establish strategic work schedules, shift coordination, and production sequences to ensure all output goals are met safely and efficiently.

Autonomous Maintenance Championship

Lead the floor level Autonomous Maintenance (AM) program. Drive step progress, manage technical action plans, and ensure diagnostic tools are utilized correctly to eliminate technical losses and keep machinery running at peak efficiency.

Operational Excellence and Data Analytics

Drive a continuous improvement mindset across your shift. Track, analyze, and report on Key Performance Indicators including inventory loss or gain and yield variances to implement corrective, data driven process improvements.

Safety, Quality, and Compliance Stewardship

Ensure strict adherence to Environmental Health and Safety standards, Quality Assurance, and Good Manufacturing Practices. Lead incident investigations, support Corrective and Preventive Action plans, and maintain audit readiness.

Technical Coaching and Talent Development

Build a highly self sufficient crew. Coordinate technical training, map out defined career pathways for your technicians, and provide real time coaching and feedback while proactively resolving labor concerns.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (including Mechanical, Industrial, Machine, or a closely related technical field).
• 3+ years of direct, supervisory and management experience inside a manufacturing plant environment.
• Proven ability to manage complex production activities, resource allocation, and schedule management under tight operational timelines.
• Ability to work in a physical manufacturing environment (including bending, climbing, kneeling, and lifting up to fifty pounds), wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and work irregular shifts (including nights, weekends, and on call rotation as required) to support a continuous twenty four hour operation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in Systems, Applications, and Products (SAP) enterprise resource planning software, Factory Performance and Reliability (FPR) standards, and Google Workspace applications.
• Direct experience executing Lean, Six Sigma, or structured Operational Excellence (OPEX) and Autonomous Maintenance (AM) frameworks on a production floor.
• Robust relationship management skills with a proven track record of handling labor relations issues and fostering a collaborative team culture.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary Range $70,000.00 - $107,500.00 USD
• Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.
• Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements.
• Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year).
• Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.