Production Leader (Brown)

Mars (New); Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Production Leader for their Topeka facility, focusing on team leadership and operational efficiency. The role involves managing a team, ensuring quality standards, and driving continuous improvement within a dynamic manufacturing environment. Candidates should possess a relevant degree or extensive experience in similar settings, with strong leadership and communication skills.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance

401k match

Three weeks of vacation

12 Paid Holidays

Sick Pay

Maternity & Parental Leave

Annual bonus earning potential

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Experience in people leadership and continuous improvement environment required.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices and HACCP concepts.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead a team of 15 production associates.
• Ensure quality and safety standards are met on shift.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Team Engagement

Safety Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

High School Diploma with 4+ years experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Production Leader (Brown) page is loaded

Production Leader (Brown)

Apply remote type On-site locations USA-Kansas-Topeka time type Full time posted on Posted 10 Days Ago time left to apply End Date: June 20, 2025 (3 days left to apply) job requisition id R130714

Job Description:

Job: Production Leader

Shift: Nights

Location: Mars Wrigley Topeka

Mars is looking to hire a Production Leader for our state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Topeka, Kansas! Being a Mars Associate is all about opportunity. The opportunity to do challenging, exciting work that shapes the world’s best-loved brands. To work with real purpose, supported by talented, friendly people from different backgrounds. Access the tools, training, and experience you need to positively impact our business, the planet, and, most importantly, your career. Being a Mars associate is more than a job. It’s the opportunity to start your day tomorrow.

As part of our overall total compensation package, Mars offers a competitive benefits package to all associates: Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance, Short- & Long-Term Disability, and 401k match. Associates are also immediately eligible (based on hire date) for up to three weeks of vacation, 12 Paid Holidays per year, Sick Pay, Maternity & Parental Leave, and annual bonus earning potential, plus many other ancillary benefits not listed here.

The Production Leader is a shift-based, front-line operations people leader who efficiently improves Quality, Human Safety, and Product Cost Conversion while Engaging and Developing talent. The Production Leaders are responsible for delivering operational targets and leading teams of, on average, 15 production associates. The Production Leader drives safety, quality, continuous improvement, performance management, associate development, team engagement and operating results for their assigned area through shift-based leadership of a line or area that exists within a larger Value Stream organization.

This leader will coordinate the short-term activities of the area within established guidelines and standards to produce the highest quality, lowest cost product most safely and efficiently, while also partnering with the other members of the 24-hour Area Leadership Team to deliver area continuous improvement and Mars Supply Excellence (MSE) program implementation.

The Production Leader is responsible for building an effective team on his/her shift and in his/her area of responsibility and for managing the training strategy for both the individual associates and the team. This manager will implement and enforce established policy and area and organizational strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conversion - Manage the efforts of operating teams of a multi-line, area, or technology on one shift in efficiently converting materials into quality products in a safe, secure, and sanitary manner within the product design specifications.
• Change Agent - Implement changes in methods, equipment, systems, and organization, as needed, to ensure that the objectives of the line/area are met and give input and recommendations for such changes by using a continuous improvement mindset.
• Mars Supply Excellence – Lead or participate in one or more MSE Pillars; Lead and support the implementation of Autonomous Maintenance (AM) and Autonomous Work Teams (AWTs) in area of responsibility; Lead key connection points and own reliability data collection accuracy.
• Area Ownership – Collaborate with the rest of the Area Leadership Team (Area Manager or Continuous Improvement Engineer, Continuous Improvement Specialist, Maintenance Coordinator) to create and execute the reliability strategy for the area of responsibility.
• Coaching – Coach operators to build their functional and leadership capabilities and to drive accountability in safety, Quality and Food Safety, Autonomous Maintenance, and team engagement.
• Line Operations - Coordinate materials, staffing and resources to support line operation and changeovers.
• Standards Implementation and Adherence – Ensure standards are implemented on shift and in areas of responsibility through effective communication, change management, consistent reinforcement, and coaching, guidance, and accountability measures.
• Associate Safety – Ensure safe working conditions, behaviors, and mindsets through the direct implementation of Mars Safety programs and driving a relentless focus among a team of operators.
• Food Safety and Product Quality – Ensure the ongoing production of safe and defect-free products consistent with the principles of Mars. HACCP proficiency is required; this manager owns ongoing training and championing of quality goals and improvements at the Area Shift level.
• Associate Advocacy - Manage associate relations issues and guide and direct the hiring, training, retraining, development, and motivation of Operations associates following self-managed, team-working principles with a minimum degree of guidance from the Area Manager or Value Stream Manager.
• Engagement - Responsible for facilitating and driving an environment of high associate engagement on the team.
• Goal Setting and Measurement - With the general guidance of the Value Stream or Area Manager and/or the support of the Continuous Improvement Engineer, establish line and individual performance standards and goals, and measure, control, take corrective action, and report results as appropriate.
• Troubleshooting – Utilize the technical resources on shift for the preventive maintenance, repair and troubleshooting of process/packaging equipment problems, to effectively use these resources to achieve desired performance levels.
• Escalations - Proactively identify risks and opportunities and reactively lead on-shift incident resolution when operators require additional support. Prioritize, assign resources against escalated issues, and make decisions to resolve escalated issues.
• Communications - Ensure that open communications are established and that opportunities to broaden the scope and responsibility of Operations teams/associates are undertaken.
• Technology Advancement - Advise when opportunities exist for moving the line/area forward in technological change.
• Operations Strategy - Participate in implementing improvement strategies to help the line/area perform more effectively in the near term.
• Recruiting and Onboarding – Responsible for partnering with Talent Acquisition to recruit and select associates for operations roles, and responsible for onboarding associates effectively.
• Associate Development – Develop associates by mentoring and supporting their development plans and helping them grow in functional capability and long-term career.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

Education & Professional Qualification

• An undergraduate (Bachelor’s) degree

OR

• The equivalent experience is defined as greater than four years of experience in a technical manufacturing continuous improvement environment, along with a High School Diploma.

Preferred:

• A degree in one of the Engineering, basic sciences, or business-related disciplines.

Knowledge/Experience:

• Experience and demonstrated capability in leading others.
• Previous direct people leadership experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Ability to convey communications clearly and concisely.
• Understanding of major functions within the plant and the ability to work directly with all levels and functions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, etc), internet software, e-mail.
• Ability to succeed in an ambiguous environment.
• Functional knowledge and understanding of HACCP concepts.
• Experience in plant sanitation practices and procedures.
• Ability to deliver critical performance feedback and hold associates accountable to business objectives.
• Champion of safety with OSHA experience or certification preferred.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s, SNICKERS, TWIX, MILKY WAY, DOVE, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, WHISKAS, EXTRA, ORBIT, 5, SKITTLES, UNCLE BEN’S, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl, VCA and Pet Partners. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

About Us

Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s, SNICKERS, TWIX, MILKY WAY, DOVE, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, WHISKAS, EXTRA, ORBIT, 5, SKITTLES, BEN’S ORIGINAL, and COCOAVIA. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA and Pet Partners. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 140,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.