Production Supervisor - 3rd shift - Waukesha, WI

Higher Recruitment, Inc.; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Higher Recruitment, Inc. is assisting a well-established manufacturing operation in Waukesha, WI to hire a Production Supervisor for 3rd Shift. This hands-on leadership role focuses on safety, quality, and on-the-floor problem solving while driving efficient production.

You will lead the 3rd shift team, coach employees, and partner with plant leadership to implement lean improvements. The ideal candidate has 2+ years in manufacturing, supervisory experience, and a strong working knowledge of

Qualifications

• 2+ years of progressive manufacturing experience with supervisory exposure.
• Experience leading in a Lean manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of day-to-day manufacturing operations.
• Ability to coach, develop, and hold employees accountable.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production activities to meet safety, quality, and productivity goals.
• Enforce safety policies and conduct safety observations.
• Serve as technical resource for assigned areas and resolve disruptions.
• Participate in daily operations meetings and coordinate staffing.
• Coach and develop team; conduct performance evaluations.
• Coordinate training and staffing across shifts.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Two-year degree in Management/Manufacturing

Tools

MS Office

Workforce management systems

Job description

Production Supervisor – 3rd Shift

Waukesha, WI | Manufacturing

Position Overview

We are partnering with a well-established manufacturing organization in Waukesha, WI to identify an experienced Production Supervisor for 3rd Shift. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for a manufacturing professional who enjoys working on the floor, developing people, solving problems, and driving safe, efficient, high-quality production. The Production Supervisor will provide leadership to the 3rd shift team while ensuring production, quality, safety, and operational goals are consistently achieved.

The ideal candidate will bring progressive manufacturing experience, strong people-leadership skills, and a working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily production activities for the assigned shift to achieve safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and sustainability objectives.
• Promote a strong safety culture by enforcing safety policies, conducting safety observations and audits, and identifying opportunities to improve workplace safety.
• Serve as a technical resource for assigned production areas and provide immediate support when production processes or workflow are disrupted.
• Participate in daily and regular operational meetings addressing quality, safety, production performance, staffing, scheduling, shipping, and other plant priorities.
• Partner with the Production Manager and plant leadership to implement departmental initiatives and align shift activities with broader operational goals.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, resolve production issues, expedite orders, and improve cost performance.
• Provide leadership and support when addressing employee concerns, conflicts, performance issues, and other difficult situations.
• Coach, develop, and engage employees to build a strong, accountable, and collaborative production team.
• Provide timely and constructive feedback to employees, recognizing strong performance while addressing opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct employee performance evaluations and support ongoing employee development.
• Coordinate technical and job-specific training for team members.
• Identify staffing needs and work with leadership to address daily staffing challenges.
• Communicate effectively with other departments, supervisors, and shifts to ensure a smooth flow of information and production.
• Participate in cross-training with other supervisors to provide leadership coverage during vacations, weekends, and other staffing needs.
• Support quality initiatives and participate in job and item approvals in accordance with the plant's Quality Management System.
• Communicate and reinforce Plan vs. Actual performance with the team on a daily basis.
• Maintain accurate time and attendance records and verify employee attendance through the company's workforce management system.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed to support plant operations.

What We're Looking For

• 2+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, preferably in the production areas being supervised.
• Previous supervisory or team-lead experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience working in a Lean manufacturing / continuous improvement environment strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of day-to-day manufacturing operations and production processes.
• Ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold employees accountable.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively to production, quality, staffing, and safety issues.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively across departments and shifts.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with standard business software and manufacturing/workforce management systems.

Education

• A two-year technical, trade, or college degree/certificate in Management, Manufacturing, or a related field is preferred.
• Equivalent manufacturing experience and demonstrated leadership capability will be considered in place of formal education.

Leadership Expectations

• Leads from the floor and stays connected to the team.
• Creates accountability while treating employees with respect.
• Communicates clearly and consistently across shifts and departments.
• Uses data and facts to identify and solve problems.
• Looks for opportunities to improve safety, quality, productivity, and efficiency.
• Develops employees and builds bench strength.
• Reinforces a culture of teamwork, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join an established manufacturing operation where you can have a direct impact on people, production performance, and continuous improvement.