Operations Team Leader

Tom's of Maine; Sanford (ME); On-site; USD 77,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Paid parental leave

401(k) matching

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive is seeking a Team Leader for the Sanford, Maine manufacturing site. You will coach Technicians, drive Autonomous Maintenance, manage shift activities, and support 24/7 operations while upholding Food Safety and GMP standards.

This front-line role emphasizes technical leadership, process improvements, and collaboration with the Operations Area Leader to optimize asset performance and safety across shifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment (climbing, kneeling, lifting up to 50 lbs) and wear PPE.
• Ability to work irregular shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Directs daily activities of Technicians and schedules to meet goals.
• Leads Autonomous Maintenance (AM) program and drives technical performance.
• Supports 1st and 3rd shifts with coaching and problem solving.
• Ensures compliance with Food Safety, GMP, and EHS standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor’s of Science

Tools

SAP

FP&R standards

Google Suite

Job description

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number #176334 - Sanford, Maine, 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.

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Operations Area Leader, the Team Leader is the frontline driver of technical performance and team engagement. This role is responsible for the direct coaching of Technicians, the execution of Autonomous Maintenance (AM) steps, and ensuring that the area’s technical assets and people operate at peak efficiency. This role will provide support to 1st and 3rd Shift.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Execution & TPM Mastership

• Frontline AM Lead: Leads the Autonomous Maintenance (AM) program on the floor, ensuring tools are used correctly to drive program step progress and eliminate technical losses.
• Operational Excellence: Drives OPEX initiatives and adheres to all EHS, Quality, and Operational Efficiency standards to optimize plant performance.
• Technical Problem Solving: Identifies and implements process improvements by tracking and analyzing KPIs, including yield variances and inventory loss.
• Safety & Quality Rigor: Ensures strict adherence to Food Safety, GMP, and EHS standards, leading incident investigations and corrective action plans.

Coaching & Team Development

• Technical Coaching: Provides ongoing, real-time coaching and feedback to Technicians to build their technical competencies and self-sufficiency.
• Training Coordination: Coordinates technical training schedules to ensure the workforce possesses the necessary skills to meet evolving business needs.
• Engagement & Labor Relations: Builds employee engagement and ensures timely resolution of labor concerns, seeking mutually beneficial solutions to conflict.
• Workforce Management: Manages the permanent and temporary workforce, including shift rotations, crewing, and daily attendance.

Operational & Financial Support

• Production Flow: Directs daily activities of Technicians, establishing work schedules and production sequences to ensure all goals are met.
• Inventory Ownership: Leads physical inventory counts, investigates variances, and conducts activities related to monthly financial closure.
• Data Integrity: Manages SAP daily consumption posting and ensures production orders are technically completed to support the Area Leader’s financial reporting.

Required Qualifications

• Education/Experience: Bachelor’s of Science.
• Physical Ability: Must be able to work in a manufacturing environment (climbing, kneeling, lifting up to 50 lbs) and wear all required PPE.
• Flexibility: Ability to work irregular shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to support 24/7 technical operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical Leadership: 2+ years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Systems Mastership: Strong proficiency in SAP systems, FP&R standards, and Google Suite.
• Communication: Proven ability to communicate technical ideas clearly and facilitate the transfer of best practices across shifts.
• Alignment: Leadership values inherently aligned with the company’s Leadership Principles.

Compensation And Benefits

Salary Range $76,800.00 - $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.