Shift Production Lead: Hands-On, Safety-Focused Leader

Vital Midwest LLC; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Vital Midwest LLC in Nashville, TN seeks a Production Lead to coordinate daily production activities, train Machine Operators, and maintain safety, quality, and food-safety standards. You will monitor line performance, support changeovers, and lead hands-on troubleshooting to keep lines running smoothly.

You will work closely with the Production Supervisor, Quality, and Maintenance to address issues, document outcomes, and uphold GMP/HACCP compliance in a fast-paced food manufacturing

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years manufacturing or machine operation experience; food manufacturing preferred.
• Prior lead, trainer, or informal team leadership experience preferred.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and working knowledge of production equipment, troubleshooting, changeovers, and process controls.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, give clear direction, and respond effectively in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong communication, coaching, documentation, and basic computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead shift start-up activities and communicate production plan, safety expectations, quality priorities, and risks.
• Coordinate daily work assignments, line coverage, breaks, and changeovers to meet schedule requirements.
• Operate equipment and support setup, changeovers, sanitation, and start-up activities as needed.
• Monitor output, downtime, scrap, yield, and critical process parameters; respond when off target.
• Ensure production, quality, and downtime checks and documentation are completed accurately and on time.
• Identify and troubleshoot equipment or process issues; escalate when safety or quality is at risk.
• Enforce SOPs, safety, GMP, HACCP, sanitation, and allergen-control requirements.
• Train and coach Operators on equipment operation, standard work, and safe practices.
• Provide timely feedback and communicate concerns to the Production Supervisor.
• Conduct shift handoffs with status updates and priorities.
• Maintain 5S and visual-management standards.
• Support root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts.

Skills

Team leadership

Machine operation

Quality awareness

Communication

Troubleshooting

SOP adherence

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Basic computer skills

Job description

Vital Midwest LLC in Nashville, TN seeks a Production Lead to coordinate daily production activities, train Machine Operators, and maintain safety, quality, and food-safety standards. You will monitor line performance, support changeovers, and lead hands-on troubleshooting to keep lines running smoothly.

You will work closely with the Production Supervisor, Quality, and Maintenance to address issues, document outcomes, and uphold GMP/HACCP compliance in a fast-paced food manufacturing