Production Lead - Weekend Night Shift

Utz Brands, Inc.; Kings Mountain (NC); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Employer 401k match

Profit sharing program

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Utz Quality Foods is seeking a Production Lead to oversee key production equipment, train staff, and support troubleshooting. The role requires hands-on manufacturing experience and the ability to guide a team toward production goals.

Hosted on a rotating schedule with early-morning shifts, the position emphasizes safety, quality, and cost control. You will work with maintenance and operators to keep packaging lines running smoothly while fostering a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Must be able to inspire and motivate the team to meet production goals.
• Delegate tasks effectively and ensure team contributions.
• Work independently and as part of a team with a proactive attitude.
• Previous manufacturing experience preferred, especially food production.
• Manage multiple responsibilities: monitor machines, train teammates, troubleshoot.
• Must obtain and maintain forklift certification.
• Basic computer skills and ability to read production schedules.
• Ability to safely lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Guide team to achieve Safety, Quality, Production, and Cost goals.
• Operate and maintain key production equipment (fryers, packaging, seasoning, printers, labelers).
• Collaborate with Maintenance to troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Train new and existing team members for equipment operation.
• Execute shift production schedule including start-ups, changeovers, and shutdowns.
• Monitor product quality and enforce food safety and GMP procedures.
• Fill in for vacancies and cover critical positions as needed.
• Collaborate with operators, maintenance, and supervisors to keep operations running smoothly.

Skills

Team leadership

Motivation

Training

Troubleshooting

Forklift certification

Production scheduling

Safety awareness

Physical stamina

Tools

Fryers

Packaging machines

Seasoning machines

Printers

Labelers

Job description

Are you looking for a fulfilling career with a company that values teamwork and your personal success? At Utz Quality Foods, we are committed to helping you grow while ensuring our manufacturing operations run smoothly. Join a team of dedicated professionals working together to create top-quality snacks!

We are currently seeking a Production Lead to oversee key production equipment, provide training, and support troubleshooting efforts. If you have hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment and are ready to lead a team toward achieving production goals, we want to hear from you!

Work Schedule

• Rotating Schedule: 1st week: Friday to Sunday 2nd week: Thursday to Sunday 6:00 PM to 6:30 AM

Responsibilities

• Guide your team to achieve goals around Safety, Quality, Production, and Cost.
• Be able to operate and maintain all key production equipment, including fryers, packaging machines, seasoning machines, printers, and labelers.
• Work alongside Maintenance to troubleshoot and resolve production equipment issues.
• Train new and existing team members to ensure everyone is qualified to operate equipment effectively.
• Help execute the shift production schedule, including start-ups, changeovers, and shutdowns.
• Monitor product quality and ensure all tasks related to food safety and GMP are followed.
• Fill in for vacancies and provide coverage for critical job positions as needed.
• Work cross-functionally with machine operators, maintenance staff, and supervisors to keep operations running smoothly.

Requirements

• Ability to inspire and motivate the team to meet production goals and maintain high morale.
• Ability to delegate tasks effectively and ensure all team members are contributing to their full potential.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a self-motivated, proactive attitude.
• Previous experience in manufacturing is preferred, especially in food production.
• Ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, such as monitoring machines, training new team members, and troubleshooting problems simultaneously.
• Ability to obtain and maintain forklift certification.
• Basic computer skills and the ability to read production schedules.
• Ability to safely lift up to 50 lbs as needed.

External Recruitment Process

• Easy Application (5 mins): Introduce yourself and answer a few key questions to get started.
• Engaging Chat Interview (20-25 mins): Share your experiences in an online chat, highlighting how your values align with ours.
• Live Interview: Selected candidates will meet with the hiring manager to explore their alignment with the team and overall Utz company culture.

Continuously Pursuing Excellence!

Here at Utz, we have a passion for exciting and delighting consumers with delicious snack foods made from high quality ingredients. After over a century with a strong family heritage, our diverse portfolio of brands includes Utz, Zapp’s, Boulder Canyon, and On the Border. Our associates are the reason for the success of this company, so it is important we provide a supportive, caring and inclusive environment that offers opportunities for career growth and advancement. We also help take care of our associates by providing benefits, resources, and programs that ensure they live their healthiest lives. Our full-time benefit package includes medical, dental, and vision plans, an employer match 401k, profit sharing plan, employee stock purchase plan and much more. Join our world class team and help us become the fastest growing pure-play U.S. snacking company of scale!

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.