Production Lead

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC; Iola (KS); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading manufacturer of chocolates where innovation and collaboration thrive! As the Lead of the Molding Department, you will ensure top-notch quality in chocolate production while inspiring and training your team. Your role is vital in maintaining safety and efficiency standards in a dynamic environment filled with cutting-edge equipment. If you have a passion for leadership and a love for chocolate, this is the perfect opportunity to make a difference in a company that values excellence and celebrates diversity. Experience the excitement of working in a climate-controlled facility where every day is an adventure in chocolate-making!

Benefits

Protective Gear Provided

GMP Training

Climate-Controlled Environment

Dynamic Work Environment

Employee Discounts

Health and Wellness Programs

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age and a high school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in food manufacturing and leadership preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct and train employees in the chocolate production process.
• Maintain records and ensure adherence to quality standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication Skills

Analytical Abilities

Ability to Lift 50lbs

Understanding of GMP

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

SAP Management System

Microsoft Office Products

Job description

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life…
As the Lead of the MoldingDepartment, you will play a key role in ensuring the seamless execution of the chocolate production process from start to finish. Your primary responsibility will be to uphold the exceptional quality standards our customers know and love, ensuring each piece of candy produced meets these high expectations. In this leadership role, you will inspire, train, and support team members, fostering a culture of safety, efficiency, and excellence. You will guide your department to consistently meet production goals while adhering to our quality standards. Additionally, you will utilize our SAP management system to maintain accurate records, ensuring smooth operations throughout all stages of production

What will you be doing?

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

• Directing, monitoring, assisting and training employees assigned to a specific area, line or team per Supervisor’s instructions.
• Communicating with and delegating tasks to team members.
• Operating machinery, equipment, and tools in a safe and proficient manner according to standards, guidelines and instructions.
• Maintaining records.
• Delivering, inspecting and performing all activities required of other members of the area, line or team.
• Adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines to ensure product quality and uphold food safety standards.
• Learning to Identify and address potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities, while maintaining proactive communication with supervisors.
• Documenting food safety and quality procedures, maintaining detailed records of monitoring, verification, and corrective actions.

Do you have what it takes?

(Basic Qualifications)

• At least 18 years of age
• High school diploma or GED
• Ability to read and understand tapes, scales and thermometers.
• Ability to read and understand product specifications and recognize deviations.
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs
• Ability to routinely and frequently stand, stoop, bend, and lift overhead.
• Ability to stand on hard surfaces for the duration of shift.

Do you stand above the rest?
(Preferred Qualification)

• Experience working in a food manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of leadership experience.
• Working knowledge of SAP & Microsoft Office Products.
• Strong analytical abilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and objectives.

Experience the Excitement at Russell Stover Plants!

• Safety First: Your well-being is our top priority, and we’ve got you covered with protective gear. On day one, you’ll dive into Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training, and we’ll keep you on your toes with daily safety tips to ensure you’re always in the know!
• Surroundings: Get ready to work alongside cutting-edge equipment like automated packing machines, forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and those irresistible chocolate candy banks/steels – it’s a dynamic environment where every day brings something new!
• Active & Engaging Work: Whether you’re on your feet for extended periods, moving around, climbing ladders, or lifting up to 50 lbs, there’s never a dull moment. This is a place where you’ll stay on the move!
• Comfortable Climate: In most roles, you will be comfortable year-round with our climate-controlled environment.
• Appealing Smells: The air is filled with sweet aromas of chocolate, and by the time your shift ends, you might just leave smelling like chocolate!
• Dress to Impress (Food Safety Style): A simple yet important dress code ensures safety and hygiene, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to keep everything running smoothly.
• Allergens: You will be exposed to a variety of ingredients that may be considered food allergens like nuts, milk, and more.

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.