Production Leader: Lean, 5S & Continuous Improvement

STQ Partners; South Hill (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

STQ Partners is assisting a global leader in specialty engineered materials to hire a production leader who will plan, schedule, and manage daily production activities to meet customer and business requirements.

You will lead Lean initiatives, implement 5S, monitor safety and quality metrics, and collaborate with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to achieve operational objectives. A Bachelor's degree and 5+ years' supervisory manufacturing experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience with supervisory or management responsibility.
• Hands-on experience implementing Lean manufacturing tools and 5S methodologies.
• Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working within ISO 9001 or a comparable quality management system preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and manage daily production activities to meet customer and business requirements.
• Lead and support Lean manufacturing initiatives focused on waste reduction, efficiency, and standardization.
• Implement, maintain, and audit 5S standards across all production areas.
• Monitor production metrics including safety, quality, delivery, and cost, initiating corrective actions where needed.
• Ensure compliance with quality management systems (ISO 9001) and internal procedures.
• Lead, coach, and develop production supervisors and hourly employees.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all company safety policies and regulations.
• Collaborate with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to achieve operational objectives.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, including Kaizen events and standard work development.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

5S methodologies

Leadership

Problem-solving

Supervisory experience

Continuous improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field

Job description

STQ Partners is assisting a global leader in specialty engineered materials to hire a production leader who will plan, schedule, and manage daily production activities to meet customer and business requirements.

You will lead Lean initiatives, implement 5S, monitor safety and quality metrics, and collaborate with Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams to achieve operational objectives. A Bachelor's degree and 5+ years' supervisory manufacturing experience are required.