Team Lead - Manufacturing

PADNOS - Recycling Solutions; Grandville (MI); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wage

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Dependent tuition help

Home buying assistance

401K match

Profit sharing

Bonuses

Job summary

PADNOS - Recycling Solutions is seeking a Team Lead to oversee production and logistics during the night shift. You will lead a crew of 7-12, ensure safety, drive production plans, and coordinate maintenance actions to keep equipment running smoothly.

You will monitor quality, track performance, and communicate with Process Engineers to implement improvements. Wages reflect the role’s senior responsibilities in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Industrial maintenance skills: mechanical repair, PM, and troubleshooting of conveyors, motors, drives, and processing equipment.
• Comfortable with computers: email, Excel, production reporting, and machine HMIs/control screens.
• Strong math skills for production numbers, yields, weights, rates, and measurements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and support a crew of 7-12 operators and techs; assign work and adjust staffing.
• Set clear expectations, coach performance, and address attendance and conduct issues.
• Train and cross-train crew members to cover all areas on every shift.
• Act as senior decision-maker on site during the shift; escalate when needed.

Skills

Industrial maintenance

Mechanical repair

Troubleshooting

Electrical troubleshooting

Excel

Production reporting

HMIs/control screens

Education

High school diploma or GED

Formal maintenance training / technical certificate / associate degree

Tools

Conveyors

Motors & drives

Job description

Our professionalTeamMembers are committed to providing service excellence and are passionate about going above and beyond to exceed our customer’s expectations. We are looking for individuals who have integrity with strong initiative and relentless attention to detail to do the right thing. We continue to find ways to innovate, lead and make a positive difference in the world. Join our successful team and have an impact on sustainability, one day at a time.

PADNOS is a full-service recycling company handling paper, plastic, metals and electronic recycling. We tailor recycling programs for consumer and industrial clients throughout the United States. PADNOS was founded over a century ago and continues to transform the recycling industry. The company has thrived as a family business through four generations and has grown to be a market leader and best in class innovator.

PADNOS has a rich history of taking care of ourTeamMembers, their families and the multiple communities we serve. We invest in ourTeamMembers and offer the following benefits:

• Competitive Wage
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 100% Tuition reimbursement for Team Members
• 75% Tuition Reimbursement for dependents
• First Time Home Buying Assistance
• 401K Match and Profit Sharing
• Performance Driven Bonuses

Schedule

• Monday - Friday, Weekend as needed
• 4:00pm - 2:30am

Team Lead Position Summary:

The Team Lead will report directly to the Operation Coach. They will be responsible for overall operations of the production and logistics areas during their shift.

1. Shift Leadership

• Lead, direct, and support a crew of 7-12 operators and techs; assign work and adjust staffing across areas as needs change.
• Set clear expectations, coach performance, and address attendance and conduct issues promptly and fairly.
• Train and cross-train crew members so every area can be covered on every shift.
• Act as the senior decision-maker on site during the shift; make sound calls with limited outside support and escalation only when needed.

2. Production Planning

• Carry out the production plan for each area and plan the shift around staffing, feed material, and equipment status.
• Balance crew and material between Wire Chop, XRT, Alusort, and the Polisher to hit shift targets.
• Track tons, run hours, and downtime; record results accurately at the end of every shift.

3. Preventive Maintenance & Mechanical Work

• Complete and assign scheduled PMs during the shift; record work done and parts used.
• Perform hands-on mechanical work: wear-part changes, belt and bearing work, alignments, adjustments, and minor repairs.
• Follow lockout/tagout and safe work procedures on all maintenance tasks.

4. Troubleshooting

• Diagnose and fix mechanical, electrical, and process issues to get equipment back online quickly.
• Decide when a problem can be fixed on shift and when it needs maintenance or OEM support; document the issue and fix for day shift.
• Track repeat failures and share them with the Process Engineer for root-cause follow-up.

5. Parts Inventory

• Track parts used on shift and keep the parts area organized and labeled.
• Flag low stock and critical spares before they run out; coordinate needs with the Process Engineer and purchasing.

6. Machine Optimization

• Monitor machine settings, feed rates, and product quality; make approved adjustments to improve throughput and recovery.
• Spot trends in performance and quality, and bring improvement ideas to the Process Engineer.
• Make sure operators run equipment to standard settings and work instructions.

7. Quality Testing & SPC

• Implement the quality testing program on off shift: pull samples, run tests at the set frequency, and record results the same way every time.
• Maintain SPC charts for key measures (e.g., purity, chemistry, contamination, throughput) and review them during the shift.
• React to out-of-control or out-of-spec results right away: adjust settings, segregate suspect material, and document the action taken.
• Train crew on sampling, test methods, and reading SPC charts so testing continues when the lead is busy elsewhere.
• Keep test equipment clean, calibrated, and ready; report issues to the Process Engineer.
• Share quality and SPC trends with the Process Engineer and help roll out new test methods and real-time testing.

8. Safety

• Own safety on the shift: run pre-shift safety talks, enforce PPE, LOTO, and guarding rules, and stop unsafe work.
• Report and help investigate incidents and near misses; correct hazards or elevate them before the end of shift.
• Keep work areas clean and organized.

9. Communication

• Day Shift Operations Coach: Give a clear shift handoff covering production, downtime, repairs, parts used, quality issues, and staffing.
• Process Engineer: Report equipment issues, repeat failures, quality results, PM status, and parts needs; carry out process changes on shift.
• Eddy Team: Coordinate shared feed, material flow, and schedules between areas; share anything that affects their run.
• Write accurate, complete shift reports so the next shift and leadership have the full picture.

Team Lead Position Qualifications:

Required

• High school diploma or GED.
• 3–5 years in industrial, manufacturing, or recycling operations, including at least 1–2 years leading people [confirm].
• Industrial maintenance skills: mechanical repair, PM, and troubleshooting of conveyors, motors, drives, and processing equipment.
• Experience operating heavy equipment (loaders, forklifts, skid steers); able to get certified on site equipment.
• Comfortable with computers: email, Excel, production reporting, and machine HMIs/control screens.
• Solid math skills for production numbers, yields, weights, rates, and measurements.
• Able to follow sampling and test procedures accurately and learn SPC chart basics (averages, ranges, control limits).
• Able to multitask across several areas, set priorities, and stay calm under pressure.
• Proven ability to work with limited outside support, make sound decisions, and lead a team of 7-12 people.
• Clear communicator, both written and verbal.

Preferred

• Experience with wire chopping, sensor-based sorting (XRT, LIBS, eddy current), or scrap metal recycling.
• Basic electrical troubleshooting, PLC/HMI familiarity, or welding/fabrication skills.
• Experience with SPC, quality testing, or handheld XRF/LIBS analyzers.
• Formal maintenance training, technical certificate, or associate degree.
• Prior off-shift leadership experience.

PADNOS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, weight, height, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, age, genetic medical information, protected veteran status, or disability status.