Operations Zone Leader I

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds; Lost Hills (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 89,000; Full time

Job summary

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds in California’s Central Valley seeks a Production Zone Leader to oversee multiple production areas, drive efficiency, quality, and people development within the zone, and coordinate with support teams. The role ensures safe, compliant operations and leads continuous improvement initiatives.

The position involves recruiting and training staff, assigning work, evaluating performance, and pushing standard work and lean practices across the zone.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Associate’s degree or a high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• 2–4 years related experience in a food manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Provides daily production plan and priority to all areas within assigned zone.
• Manages standard work within responsible zones to achieve production output and quality targets.
• Ensures that all zone team members are adequately trained, understand quality and productivity, and perform in a manner that promotes teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Evaluates performance and morale of team members, disciplines within approved guidelines, ensures ongoing training and development, and recommends promotions, transfers, terminations, and wage adjustments.
• Works with supporting departments to address safety, quality or productivity issues in a timely manner.
• Ensures production work is properly staged and ready, eliminating zone area downtime.
• Strives to perform all activities within assigned zone, including running equipment.
• Maintains and enforces company rules and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance throughout the company.
• Actively promotes safety and safe working requirements in all areas of responsibility.
• Is involved in the day‑to‑day direction of all employees and ensures compliance with company policy and work rules, GMPs, and safety requirements are met.
• Cultivates continuous improvement activities, manages 5S and applies lean thinking to the day‑to‑day operations within all areas of responsibility.
• Provides a challenging and supportive environment for team members to continuously improve results.
• Supports performance management process and is aligned with organization’s overall goals. Attends and leads Floor Management Development System (FMDS) meetings in assigned zone.
• Is actively engaged in the organization’s process‑improvement Hoshin‑goals and strives to complete all assigned activities.
• Plays an instrumental part in the development of strong leaders within the team.
• Embraces administrative responsibilities for zone and holds overall accountability for payroll attendance process, disciplinary actions, manpower requests, etc.
• Assists in special projects and any other duty as assigned.

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Associate’s degree or a high school diploma or equivalent is required

Job description

Company Description

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds is the largest vertically integrated pistachio and almond processor in the world. Located in California's Central Valley, our nuts are Non‑GMO Project Verified and sustainably harvested, providing a smart, healthy choice for consumers around the world. Our facilities are equipped with the most advanced processing technology available, allowing us to efficiently sort, grade, process, roast, flavor, and pack billions of nuts each year. We are committed to providing the highest‑quality nuts to our customers and consumers worldwide.

Job Description

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Production Zone Leader ensures that production of products meets or exceeds efficiency and company quality standards. The role directs, coordinates, and evaluates production areas, which may include grading, packing, general floor, equipment, quality assurance and sanitation. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; developing, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Additionally, the zone leader drives performance improvement initiatives to maximize value added time and supports performance management processes and continuous development opportunities for employees in the assigned zone.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Provides daily production plan and priority to all areas within assigned zone. Raises and resolves any customer demand scheduling conflicts.
• Manages standard work within responsible zones to achieve production output and quality targets. Requests and directs resources necessary to accomplish group goals and objectives.
• Ensures that all zone team members are adequately trained, understand quality and productivity, and perform in a manner that promotes teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Evaluates performance and morale of team members, disciplines within approved guidelines, ensures ongoing training and development, and recommends promotions, transfers, terminations, and wage adjustments.
• Works with supporting departments to address safety, quality or productivity issues in a timely manner.
• Ensures production work is properly staged and ready, eliminating zone area downtime.
• Strives to perform all activities within assigned zone, including running equipment.
• Maintains and enforces company rules and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance throughout the company.
• Actively promotes safety and safe working requirements in all areas of responsibility.
• Is involved in the day‑to‑day direction of all employees and ensures compliance with company policy and work rules, GMPs, and safety requirements are met.
• Cultivates continuous improvement activities, manages 5S and applies lean thinking to the day‑to‑day operations within all areas of responsibility.
• Provides a challenging and supportive environment for team members to continuously improve results.
• Supports performance management process and is aligned with organization’s overall goals. Attends and leads Floor Management Development System (FMDS) meetings in assigned zone.
• Is actively engaged in the organization’s process‑improvement Hoshin‑goals and strives to complete all assigned activities.
• Plays an instrumental part in the development of strong leaders within the team.
• Embraces administrative responsibilities for zone and holds overall accountability for payroll attendance process, disciplinary actions, manpower requests, etc.
• Assists in special projects and any other duty as assigned.

Pay Range: $73,000 to $89,000 per year

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Associate’s degree or a high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• 2–4 years related experience in a food manufacturing environment.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. EEO is the law.