Production Lead

Thorne; Summerville (SC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

401k with employer matching

Gym membership reimbursement

Supplements allowance

Paid time off

Career development

Job summary

Thorne is seeking a Production Lead in Summerville, SC to guide daily manufacturing operations and ensure quality, safety, and efficiency. You will oversee Mixing, Sanitation, Encapsulation, and Packaging activities, while supporting operators and coordinating with Supervisors to meet schedules.

Ideal candidates have frontline leadership experience in regulated environments, strong communication, and hands-on capability to lead by example in a fast-paced facility.

Qualifications

• Experience leading, training, or mentoring others in a fast-paced setting.
• Understanding of regulated manufacturing environments (cGMP, FDA, ISO).
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day production activities to safely achieve quality, productivity, and schedule goals.
• Support operators during the shift with direction, questions, and obstacle removal.
• Help manage staffing, materials, equipment, and workflow for efficient production.
• Lead shift transitions to ensure smooth handoffs and uninterrupted production.
• Train and mentor Production Operators on equipment, processes, SOPs, and best practices.
• Support onboarding and skill development for new team members.
• Ensure all production activities comply with cGMP, FDA, OSHA, and Thorne quality standards.
• Review and complete production documentation accurately and on time.
• Monitor production areas for cleanliness, organization, and inspection readiness.
• Identify, investigate, and resolve quality or process issues.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Regulatory knowledge

Team mentorship

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Production Lead

Department: Production

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Summerville, SC

Description

At Thorne, we work to deliver high-quality, science-backed solutions to empower individuals to take a proactive approach to their well-being. Each day begins with a mission to help others discover and achieve their best health. We count on our team members to challenge and push the boundaries to make that happen. At Thorne, you’ll be joining a team of more than 750 passionate individuals committed to our cause of providing superior health solutions at every age and life stage.

At Thorne, Production Leads are the frontline leaders who keep our manufacturing operations running safely, efficiently, and on schedule. This role combines hands-on production expertise with leadership responsibilities, serving as the day-to-day resource for Production Operators while partnering closely with Supervisors to achieve quality, safety, and production goals.

Weekend Schedule- 12 Hour Shifts

• Week 1: Friday – Sunday
• Week 2: Thursday – Sunday

Mixing
Leads the production of Thorne's nutritional supplements by overseeing the accurate weighing, blending, and preparation of raw ingredients. Ensures product quality, equipment readiness, and adherence to strict manufacturing standards.

Sanitation
Oversees the cleaning and sanitization of production equipment and manufacturing areas to maintain a safe, compliant environment. Ensures sanitation procedures, documentation, chemical handling, and hygiene practices meet FDA, cGMP, and company standards.

Encapsulation
Leads the operation of encapsulation equipment that transforms blended formulations into finished capsules. Focuses on equipment performance, product quality, throughput, and compliance with manufacturing specifications.

Packaging
Oversees the packaging of finished products, ensuring supplements are accurately labeled, sealed, inspected, and prepared for distribution. Drives efficiency while maintaining quality, regulatory compliance, and on-time production.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate day-to-day production activities to safely achieve quality, productivity, and schedule goals.
• Support operators throughout the shift by providing direction, answering questions, and removing production obstacles.
• Help manage staffing, materials, equipment, and workflow to keep production running efficiently.
• Lead shift transitions to ensure smooth handoffs and uninterrupted production.
• Train and mentor Production Operators on equipment, processes, SOPs, and best practices.
• Support onboarding and skill development for new team members.
• Reinforce quality, safety, and operational expectations through daily coaching.
• Partner with Supervisors to provide feedback and support employee development.
• Ensure all production activities comply with cGMP, FDA, OSHA, and Thorne quality standards.
• Review and complete production documentation accurately and on time.
• Monitor production areas to ensure cleanliness, organization, and inspection readiness.
• Help identify, investigate, and resolve quality or process issues.
• Monitor equipment performance and proactively identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Escalate equipment concerns and production issues quickly to minimize downtime.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that increase productivity and reduce waste.
• Help maintain production output while ensuring product quality is never compromised.

WHAT YOU NEED

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in manufacturing, production, or another fast-paced operational environment.
• Previous experience leading, training, or mentoring others preferred.
• Working knowledge of cGMP, FDA, ISO, or other regulated manufacturing environments is preferred.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working hands-on while leading by example.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
• Company-paid life insurance
• 401k plan with employer matching contributions up to 4%
• Gym membership reimbursement
• Monthly allowance of Thorne supplements
• Paid time off, volunteer time off and holiday leave
• Training, professional development, and career growth opportunities