Production Shift Lead

ingredion; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ingredion is seeking a Shift Lead to oversee off-shift, weekend, and holiday plant operations at our Indianapolis site. The role serves as the primary site contact during non-traditional hours, ensuring safety, productivity, and employee engagement while supporting operational excellence across the facility.

You will collaborate with Operations, Engineering, EHS, and Maintenance to drive clear communication, continuous improvement, and reliable plant performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
• Minimum of 3 years of manufacturing experience with team leadership.
• Experience in fast-paced manufacturing with operations decisions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary plant contact during off-shift, weekend, and holiday operations.
• Act as Incident Commander during EH&S emergencies and coordinate response activities.
• Provide first responder support within training and qualification requirements and engage internal and external resources when necessary.
• Coordinate emergency maintenance activities and allocate resources to minimize disruptions and ensure safe resolution of issues.
• Monitor plant operations and identify operating issues, performance gaps, or emerging trends requiring intervention.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and EHS teams to facilitate timely issue resolution and support operational goals.
• Identify opportunities to improve safety, productivity, reliability, quality, and cost performance across the manufacturing process.
• Support implementation of training, communication, continuous improvement initiatives, and capital projects.
• Help drive employee engagement by maintaining visibility on the production floor and providing leadership support to operating teams.
• Promote effective communication and information sharing across shifts and functional teams.
• Collaborate with site leadership to support business growth initiatives and operational objectives.
• Participate in and lead committees, project teams, and site improvement efforts as needed.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment that promotes teamwork, accountability, and operational excellence.

Skills

Strong communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Team coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

About Ingredion:

Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you've experienced our work in your favorite chocolate, your pet's food, the paper you write on, and your everyday snacks. As a global powerhouse across more than 60 industries, we harness the potential of natural ingredients to transform lives. Whether you're just starting your career or bringing years of experience, there's a place for you here to make a real difference. Be part of our team that values a wide range of perspectives and is committed to shaping a better world with every product we create.

Location : Indianapolis, IN.

Workplace type: Onsite

Schedule: Rotating 12 hrs shifts

Ingredion is seeking a highly motivated Shift Lead to provide leadership and coordination for off-shift, weekend, and holiday plant operations. This role serves as the primary site contact during non-traditional operating hours, helping ensure employees remain safe, productive, and engaged while supporting operational excellence across the facility. The Plant Coordinator works closely with Operations, Engineering, EHS, and Maintenance teams to drive effective communication, support business objectives, and facilitate continuous improvement initiatives.

As a Shift Lead you will...

Serve as the primary plant leader during assigned off-shift operations, coordinating resources, supporting employees, responding to operational challenges, and ensuring safe and efficient plant performance. You will collaborate across functions to maintain operational continuity, support growth initiatives, and foster a culture of safety, engagement, and teamwork.

What you will do:

• Serve as the primary plant contact during off-shift, weekend, and holiday operations.
• Act as Incident Commander during environmental, health, and safety-related emergencies and coordinate response activities as required.
• Provide first responder support within training and qualification requirements and engage internal and external emergency resources when necessary.
• Coordinate emergency maintenance activities and allocate resources to minimize operational disruptions and ensure safe resolution of issues.
• Monitor plant operations and identify operating issues, performance gaps, or emerging trends requiring intervention or escalation.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, and EHS teams to facilitate timely issue resolution and support operational goals.
• Identify opportunities to improve safety, productivity, reliability, quality, and cost performance across the manufacturing process.
• Support implementation of training, communication, continuous improvement initiatives, and capital projects.
• Help drive employee engagement by maintaining visibility on the production floor and providing leadership support to operating teams.
• Promote effective communication and information sharing across shifts and functional teams.
• Collaborate with site leadership to support business growth initiatives and operational objectives.
• Participate in and lead committees, project teams, and site improvement efforts as needed.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment that promotes teamwork, accountability, and operational excellence.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering
• Minimum of 3 years of manufacturing experience, including experience leading teams or coordinating operational activities.
• Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with responsibility for operational decision-making.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to lead meetings, communicate operational updates, and support standard operating procedures.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities while maintaining a strong focus on safety and operational performance.
• Availability to work off-shifts, weekends, holidays, rotating schedules, and overtime as required.

Who you are:

• A confident leader who remains calm and makes sound decisions during dynamic or high-pressure situations.
• A strong communicator who effectively builds relationships and collaborates across departments and organizational levels.
• A proactive problem solver who identifies improvement opportunities and works with stakeholders to implement solutions.
• A highly organized professional capable of balancing multiple priorities and responding quickly to changing plant needs.
• A team-oriented leader who promotes employee engagement, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Results-driven and committed to continuous improvement, safety, and business performance.

Preferred Qualifications

• SAP experience.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Food Safety principles.
• Mechanical troubleshooting and problem-solving experience.
• Experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.