Production Operator Lead

Niagara Bottling; Opelika (AL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Niagara Bottling is seeking a Production Operator Lead to assist the Production Supervisor with daily production floor operations. You will help ensure safety, quality, and throughput while coordinating with the prior shift to address issues.

Responsibilities include changeovers, material checks, and end-of-shift reporting. The role requires adherence to GMP and food safety standards and may involve 12-hour rotating shifts (2-2-3) based on production needs.

Qualifications

• 4 years – experience in field or similar manufacturing environment.
• 4 years – experience in the position.
• 4 years – experience managing people/projects; combination of work experience and education allowed.

Responsibilities

• Assist Production Supervisor with daily shift activities ensuring safety, quality, and throughput.
• Communicate with the previous shift regarding challenges and opportunities.
• Conduct shift walkthroughs to verify safety, housekeeping, and quality.
• Assist with batching minerals and preparing lines for changeovers.
• Order and inspect raw materials prior to changeovers to ensure correct inventories.
• Perform first pass quality checks after changeovers to prevent non-conforming product.
• Verify discrete jobs in Oracle, WMS, and Line Management System.
• Support hourly and end-of-shift production reports.

Skills

Field manufacturing experience

Experience in the position

People/project management

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associate's Degree (preferred)

Tools

Oracle

Warehouse Management System

Line Management System

Job description

Production Operator Lead

At Niagara, we’re looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.

• Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.
• Develop lasting relationships with great people.
• Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.

This position is responsible for collaborating with the Production Supervisor to assist with daily operations of the production floor; ensuring the shift meets established safety, quality, and production goals in compliance with all applicable legal and food safety requirements.

Essential Functions

Assists Production Supervisor with daily activities of assigned shift, ensuring product adheres to Niagara’s standard of safety, quality, and throughput.

Communicates with previous shift regarding any challenges and opportunities on the production lines to prepare for the shift.

Conducts walkthroughs throughout the shift to verify safety, housekeeping, and quality compliance.

Assists supervisor with batching minerals (if applicable) and preparing production lines for scheduled changeovers.

Orders and inspects raw materials prior to changeovers to ensure correct inventories for production runs.

Performs first pass quality checks after changeovers to prevent non-conforming product.

Returns raw materials after completion of production runs.

Verifies discrete jobs are correct in Oracle (including quality and bill of material list), Warehouse Management System, and/or Line Management System.

Supports Production Supervisor with hourly and/or end of shift production reports.

Utilizes the Efficiency Improvement Tools to understand and comment on line downtime and communicates appropriately per the escalation plan.

Adheres to the highest standards of company and plant safety programs, guidelines, rules, and regulations.

Abides by Niagara’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Food Safety Standards at all times.

Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of the job.

Ability to work 12 hour shifts, day or night, on a rotating 2-2-3 schedule or schedule as dictated by production demand.

Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without prior notice.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 4 Years – Experience in Field or similar manufacturing environment
• 4 Years – Experience in Position
• 4 Years - Experience managing people/projects *experience may include a combination of work experience and education

Preferred Qualifications:

• 6 Years–Experience in Field or similar manufacturing environment
• 6 Years- Experience working in Position
• 6 Years – Experience managing people/projects *experience may include a combination of work experience and education

Competencies

This position embodies the values of Niagara’s LIFE competency model, focusing on the following key drivers of success:

• Lead Like an Owner Makes safety the number one priority
• Keeps alert for safety issues and escalates immediately
• Effectively prioritizes tasks based on department goals
• Shows respect to others and confronts interpersonal issues directly
• Prioritizes resolution of customer issues effectively
• Responds promptly and honors commitments to internal and external customers
• InnovACT Makes recommendations to continuously improve policies, methods, procedures, and/or products
• Demonstrates adaptability by reacting appropriately to unexpected changes in situations or circumstances
• Increases performance through greater efficiency
• Find a Way Seeks to develop technical knowledge through learning from other experts
• Understands interdepartmental impact of individual decisions and actions
• Seeks solutions rather than placing blame
• Empowered to be Great Consistently looks for ways to improve one’s self through growth and development opportunities
• Communicates clearly and promptly up, down, and across
• Communicates effectively to manage expectations

Education

Education Minimum Required: High School Diploma or GED Preferred: Associate's Degree Certification/License: Required: N/A Preferred: N/A Foreign Language Required: None Required Preferred: None Required Benefits

Benefits

Our Total Rewards package is thoughtfully designed to support both you and your family: Regular full-time team members are offered a comprehensive benefits package, while part-time, intern, and seasonal team members are offered a limited benefits package.

• Paid Time Off for holidays, sick time, and vacation time
• Paid parental and caregiver leaves
• Medical, including virtual care options
• Dental
• Vision 401(k) with company match
• Health Savings Account with company match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Expanded mental wellbeing benefits including free counseling sessions for all team members and household family members
• Family Building Benefits including enhanced fertility benefits for IVF and fertility preservation plus adoption, surrogacy, and Doula reimbursements
• Income protection including Life and AD&D, short and long-term disability, critical illness and an accident plan
• Special discount programs including pet plans, pre-paid legal services, identity theft, car rental, airport parking, etc.
• Tuition reimbursement, college savings plan and scholarship opportunities
• And more!

https://careers.niagarawater.com/us/en/benefits

Los Angeles County applicants only

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and any other applicable local and state laws.

Niagara Bottling, LLC has been family owned and operated since 1963. Niagara is a leading bottled water manufacturer in the U.S., supplying major retailers across the nation. With incredible growth over the past several years, the career possibilities at Niagara are endless! Niagara’s culture is fast-paced, innovative and intensely collaborative. Our Team Members are passionate, driven and always find a way to get the job done. We work hard and play hard while staying true to our family atmosphere. From competitive benefits and retirement options to educational reimbursements, ongoing training courses and exciting career advancement opportunities, at Niagara we truly take care of our Team Members.

We hope that you consider joining our Niagara family!

Niagara Bottling LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in relation to our recruiting, hiring, and promoting practices.