Plant Area Leader - On-site, Lead Teams & Drive Safety

The J.M. Smucker Company; McCalla (AL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The J.M. Smucker Company is seeking an Area Leader for our McCalla, AL Uncrustables facility. You will lead a high-performing team on-site, focus on safety, quality, and meeting production goals, and shape a culture that values accountability and continuous improvement.

You will coach and develop team members, run daily shift meetings, and partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to drive performance while advancing your leadership career at a recognized food manufacturer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Bachelor of Science preferred.
• 2+ years of manufacturing operations experience required; food manufacturing preferred.
• 2+ years of leadership, supervisory, or people management experience required.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and problem-solving tools.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to safely deliver quality products while meeting production goals.
• Champion a world-class safety culture through visible leadership and accountability.
• Drive operational excellence by eliminating losses, improving processes, and delivering results.
• Maintain a strong presence on the plant floor, coaching and developing team members.
• Set clear expectations, provide timely feedback, and manage performance.
• Lead daily shift meetings, establish priorities, and make real-time adjustments to achieve targets.
• Develop team members for current success and future growth opportunities.
• Oversee training and qualification programs to build capability and consistency.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Technical Services, and Quality teams.
• Support plant startup activities, including commissioning, qualification, and verification (CQV).
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, reliability, and efficiency.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Problem-Solving

Decision Making

Coaching/Mentoring

Communication

Organizational Skills

Flexibility

Leadership Presence

People Management

Education

Bachelor's degree required

Bachelor of Science preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The J.M. Smucker Company is seeking an Area Leader for our McCalla, AL Uncrustables facility. You will lead a high-performing team on-site, focus on safety, quality, and meeting production goals, and shape a culture that values accountability and continuous improvement.

You will coach and develop team members, run daily shift meetings, and partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to drive performance while advancing your leadership career at a recognized food manufacturer.