Production Lead – Food Manufacturing

Utz Quality Foods, Inc; Kings Mountain (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Employer 401k match

Profit sharing plan

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Utz Quality Foods, Inc. seeks a Production Lead to oversee key production equipment, guide a team, and support troubleshooting at our Kings Mountain facility.

You will train new staff, manage start-ups, changeovers, and shutdowns, and ensure food safety and GMP compliance while collaborating with maintenance and supervisors to keep operations running smoothly. This is a full-time role with a rotating schedule.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a manufacturing or food production team.
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot production equipment.
• Forklift certification is preferred/required.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills.
• Willingness to train others and develop staff.
• Ability to read production schedules and use basic computer tools.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs as needed.

Responsibilities

• Guide your team to achieve goals around Safety, Quality, Production, and Cost.
• Operate and maintain all key production equipment (fryers, packaging, seasoning, printers, labelers).
• Work with Maintenance to troubleshoot and resolve equipment issues.
• Train new and existing team members to ensure operation readiness.
• Help execute the shift production schedule (start-ups, changeovers, shutdowns).
• Monitor product quality and ensure food safety and GMP compliance.
• Fill in for vacancies and provide coverage for critical positions as needed.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operators, maintenance staff, and supervisors.

Skills

Team leadership

Motivation & coaching

Delegation

Independent worker

Forklift certification

Reading schedules

Basic computer skills

Equipment troubleshooting

Tools

Allen wrenches

Screwdrivers

Job description

Utz Quality Foods, Inc. seeks a Production Lead to oversee key production equipment, guide a team, and support troubleshooting at our Kings Mountain facility.

You will train new staff, manage start-ups, changeovers, and shutdowns, and ensure food safety and GMP compliance while collaborating with maintenance and supervisors to keep operations running smoothly. This is a full-time role with a rotating schedule.