Shift Leader - Production

General Motors; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

General Motors is seeking a Production Shift Leader to oversee multiple production areas and drive operational excellence. You will lead a diverse team of operators, group leaders, and technical staff, ensuring readiness, safety, quality, and timely launches.

The role requires 5+ years in manufacturing leadership, a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, and the ability to rotate through 1st-3rd shifts. Relocation benefits may apply for eligible candidates.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience leading cross-functional production teams.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.
• Proven skills in production planning, workforce management, and resource allocation.
• Familiarity with local and national labor agreements and safety protocols.
• Ability to work/rotate through all 3 shifts (1st, 2nd & 3rd).
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% or more.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations to ensure safe, efficient output that meets targets.
• Direct cross-functional teams to implement operational strategies.
• Develop, plan, and manage production schedules and launch requirements.
• Enforce safety protocols and labor agreements.
• Balance output with workforce and cost controls during automation and launches.
• Mentor and develop team members to提升 technical and leadership skills.

Skills

Leadership in manufacturing

Production planning

Workforce management

Safety protocols

Union labor agreements

Shift rotation

Travel 10%+

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

GMS Implementation

General Assembly operations

Job description

Job Description

Sponsorship:

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILL NEED GM IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT COMPANY SPONSORSHIP, ENTRY OF GM AS THE IMMIGRATION EMPLOYER OF RECORD ON A GOVERNMENT FORM, AND ANY WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIRING A WRITTEN SUBMISSION OR OTHER IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FROM THE COMPANY (E.g., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, ETC.)

Onsite

- This role is categorized as onsite. This means the successfulcandidate is expected to report to Arlington, TX on a full-time basis. The successful candidate will rotate amongst the three shifts and provide hands-on leadership in a fast-paced production environment.

Relocation:

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

The Role

We are seeking a self-motivated, innovation-minded leader with a strong production background and a proven record of driving operational excellence. As a Production Shift Leader, you will oversee multiple areas of by managing production activities while leading a diverse team of UAW production operators, group leaders, and technical support staff. This role is vital for ensuring departmental readiness by delivering creative problem-solving, decisive decision-making, and rigorous adherence to GM’s core principles of Safety, People, Quality, Responsiveness, Cost, and Environment (SPQRCE).

In addition, the candidate will play a critical role in improving production requirements, building a technical production team, developing group leaders, and establishing training and process standards. This includes close collaboration with the Maintenance organization, Execution Manufacturing Engineering team, Materials, Paint, and General Assembly to ensure seamless integration and launch readiness.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities):

• Lead Operations: Oversee daily production activities to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable output that meets quality and volume targets.

• Team Coordination: Direct and coordinate cross-functional teams—including production operators, group leaders, and technical experts—to implement effective operational strategies.

• Production & Launch Management: Develop, plan, and manage production schedules and launch requirements, ensuring timely execution, training readiness, and adherence to quality standards.

• Policy Enforcement: Execute divisional and corporate policies, including safety protocols, local and national labor agreements, and quality standards.

• Dynamic Decision-Making: Balance production output, workforce management, and cost controls while navigating the challenges of advanced automation, new launch activities, and unionized workforce dynamics.

• Mentorship: Mentor, train, and develop team members to continuously enhance technical skills, production knowledge, and leadership capabilities.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications):

• 5+ years experience in manufacturing or plant operations, with demonstrable leadership in managing cross-functional production teams.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

• Proven skills in production planning, workforce management, and resource allocation to drive operational success.

• Excellent interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills, ensuring effective collaboration and adherence to safety standards.

• Familiarity with and proven enforcement of local and national labor agreements and safety protocols.

• Ability and willingness to work / rotate through all 3 shifts (1st, 2nd & 3rd)

• Ability and willingness to work over-time, weekends, holidays, etc. as needed

• Ability to travel 10% of the time or higher based on business needs domestically and/or internationally.

What Can Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications):

• Technical Expertise: Strong background in General Assembly operations and GMS Implementation .

• Dual Accountability: Demonstrated success in balancing production and workforce management, making rapid, data-driven decisions during complex operational shifts .

• Unionized Environment: Proven track record working within unionized settings, with strong skills in labor relations and collaborative negotiation .

• Process Innovation: Expertise in synthesizing complex technical and operational data to facilitate effective process improvements during high-stakes product launches.

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

From day one, we’re looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

Accommodations

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