Production Lead - Weekend Night Shift

Utz Quality Foods, LLC; Kings Mountain, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Utz Quality Foods, LLC in Kings Mountain, NC is seeking a Production Lead to oversee key production equipment, train staff, and support troubleshooting. The role focuses on achieving safety, quality, production, and cost goals within a rotating schedule.

Ideal candidates will have hands-on manufacturing experience, especially in food production, and demonstrate strong leadership, delegation, and teamwork capabilities. Forklift certification and ability to lift up to 50 lbs are required.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, preferably in food production.
• Ability to lead and inspire the team to meet production goals.
• Ability to delegate tasks effectively and ensure all team members contribute.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, self-motivated and proactive.
• Forklift certification must be obtained/maintained.
• Basic computer skills and ability to read production schedules.

Responsibilities

• Guide team to achieve Safety, Quality, Production, and Cost goals.
• Operate and maintain key production equipment (fryers, packaging, seasoning machines, printers, labelers).
• Partner with Maintenance to troubleshoot equipment issues.
• Train new and existing team members to operate equipment correctly.
• Help execute the shift production schedule, including start-ups, changeovers, and shutdowns.
• Monitor product quality and ensure GMP and food safety compliance.
• Fill in for vacancies and provide coverage for critical positions.
• Collaborate with operators, maintenance staff, and supervisors to keep operations running smoothly.

Skills

Team leadership

Motivation

Delegation

Independent worker

Teamwork

Forklift certification

Basic computer skills

Production scheduling

Lifting 50 lbs

Job description

Kings Mountain, North Carolina, United States

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, o ur 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.

As part of our obligations, we have developed an affirmative Action Plan for Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans, as specified by law. This AAP is available for inspection by applicants and our employees in the Human Resources Office during normal business hours.