Production Team Lead - 3rd Shift - 10pm to 6:30am

AkzoNobel; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 43,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical insurance (Day 1)

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with 6% match

Paid time off

Job summary

AkzoNobel is seeking a Production Team Leader for our Waukegan facility to provide hands-on day-to-day leadership on the production floor. You will assign daily work, monitor processes, coach staff, and ensure safety, quality, and productivity across the shift.

The role requires strong communication and leadership, with a focus on maintaining safe operations and meeting production priorities. A competitive package with growth opportunities is offered.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to provide clear direction and effectively coach employees.
• Strong attention to safety, quality, and operational performance.
• Strong mathematical and problem‑solving skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to prioritize work and respond to changing production needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and communicate with leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and direction to production employees during the shift.
• Assign daily work and coordinate production activities based on priorities.
• Monitor processes and identify safety, quality, or productivity concerns.
• Coach employees to follow work instructions and SOPs (GMP).
• Reinforce safety, quality, productivity, and housekeeping standards.
• Troubleshoot production issues and escalate when needed.
• Ensure labor and resources are used effectively across the shift.
• Support achievement of production schedules and performance targets.

Skills

Communication

Direction

Coaching

Safety focus

Quality focus

Productivity

Mathematical skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com

© 2026 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced and safety-focused Production Team Leader to provide day-to-day leadership and direction to our manufacturing team in Waukegan.

The Production Team Leader serves as a key point of leadership on the production floor, helping coordinate daily manufacturing activities and supporting employees in meeting expectations for safety, quality, productivity, and operational performance.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will work directly alongside production employees, assign daily work, monitor manufacturing processes, coach team members, identify issues, and help ensure the shift delivers against production priorities.

Rewards & Benefits

• $31 per hour + $1.50 per hour Shift Differential
• Benefits available Day 1 of employment, including:
  • Medical insurance with HSA
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan with 6% company match
• Annual bonus
• Generous vacation, sick, and holiday pay
• Progression and development opportunities
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave after one year
• Career growth and development opportunities
• Active Diversity & Inclusion Networks
• Employee referral bonus
• Employee appreciation days

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and direction to production employees throughout the shift.
• Assign daily work and coordinate production activities based on manufacturing priorities.
• Monitor manufacturing processes and proactively identify safety, quality, productivity, or process concerns.
• Coach and support employees in following established work instructions, operating procedures, and good manufacturing practices.
• Reinforce expectations for safety, quality, productivity, housekeeping, and accountability across the team.
• Help troubleshoot production issues and elevate equipment, quality, safety, or operational concerns when appropriate.
• Monitor workflow and help ensure labor and resources are effectively utilized throughout the shift.
• Support achievement of production schedules, standard work, and operational performance targets.
• Provide production updates and communicate shift performance, priorities, issues, and handoffs to supervisors and other shifts.
• Promote teamwork and effective communication between Production, Quality, Warehouse, Maintenance, and other supporting functions.
• Participate in Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental activities, including safety meetings, BBS observations, Near Miss/AIRI reporting, housekeeping, 5S, recycling, and waste-management activities.
• Lead by example by consistently following site policies, procedures, PPE requirements, and safe work practices.
• Assist with training, onboarding, and development of production employees.
• Perform other production and leadership duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum 2 years of manufacturing experience.
• Previous experience as a Team Lead, Lead Operator, Senior Operator, or in another manufacturing leadership capacity preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to provide clear direction and effectively coach employees.
• Strong attention to safety, quality, and operational performance.
• Strong mathematical and problem‑solving skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to prioritize work and respond effectively to changing production needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and communicate effectively with employees and leadership.

What We're Looking For

Successful Production Team Leaders are visible and engaged on the manufacturing floor. They are comfortable providing direction, asking questions, addressing issues, and helping employees succeed while maintaining high standards for safety and quality.

We are looking for someone who can lead from the floor, build credibility with employees, and help the Production Supervisor translate daily production priorities into safe and effective execution.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This position works in an industrial coatings manufacturing environment where employees may be exposed to chemicals, fumes, airborne particles, noise, moving equipment, forklifts, and hot or cold equipment.

The role requires the ability to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods throughout the shift.
• Regularly navigate production areas and stairs and work from elevated platforms.
• Kneel, crouch, bend, reach, and perform other physical activities associated with a manufacturing environment.
• Occasionally lift or move up to 50 lbs. and heavier objects with appropriate assistance.
• Work safely around forklifts, mixing equipment, pumps, filling equipment, and other moving machinery.
• Read and recognize equipment indicators, including temperature and pressure readings.
• Wear required PPE, which may include safety shoes, safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection, aprons, face shields, and respiratory protection.

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.