Team Lead - Salads

Bonduelle Americas; Irwindale (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Bonduelle Americas is seeking a Team Leader in Irwindale to mentor associates, improve processes, and ensure quality, safety, and sanitation guidelines are followed. The role supports continuous improvement and contributes to CSR and B Corp goals.

You will manage production and staffing, drive line efficiency, coach frontline workers, and report KPI trends to meet budget targets while fostering a people-first culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Ability to work in a cold environment (34°F).
• Understanding of production procedures, safety processes and food safety/quality requirements (FDA compliance).
• Exposure to TPM, Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated and independent.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the safety of all employees in the operation of equipment through training and enforcement of safety rules.
• Produce and package a high-quality product in compliance with GMP and government standards.
• Ensure production lines operate efficiently and meet throughput targets.
• Drive continuous improvement to minimize downtime and maximize yield.
• Manage production and employee schedules and ensure proper crewing/de-crewing processes.
• Monitor rework levels and usage to keep rework low.
• Monitor yields and implement corrective actions to close gaps.
• Build capability through coaching and training frontline associates.
• Plan cross-training to expand job knowledge and scheduling flexibility.
• Track KPI and cost trends, reporting daily requirements and metrics.
• Manage plant overhead costs to budget (T&E, utilities, sanitation).

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Flexibility

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

JDE

RPMS

DSI

ADP timekeeping

Job description

• Department: Salads
• Reports to: Department Manager
• Location: Irwindale
• Shift: PM Shift

Make a greater impact at Bonduelle Americas!

Bonduelle Americas is a certified B Corp inviting people to embrace a flexitarian lifestyle with an expanding portfolio of plant-rich products available in and beyond the produce aisle. We operate four facilities and employ nearly 3,000 Associates in the US.

Bonduelle Americas is a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Groupe Bonduelle (BON.PA), an established global brand with more than 170 years of family heritage bringing the joy of plants to tables around the world. Globally, our ready‑to‑eat plant‑rich food products are grown on 173,000 acres by our grower partners and marketed in nearly 100 countries. Our mission is to inspire the transition toward a plant‑rich diet to contribute to people's well‑being and planet health.

Join us at Bonduelle Americas for an opportunity to advance your career in a culture that places people first. As a valued member of our company, you will work in a mission‑driven environment aimed at preserving the planet’s resources while providing healthy plant‑based products to millions of consumers around the world.

Position Summary:

Team Leader must mentor associates, contribute to Continuous Process Improvement and ensure that proper quality, sanitation and safety guidelines are being met.

By your key position in our company, you will support our environmental and social initiatives to drive progress against our corporate social responsibility and B Corp certification ambitions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure the safety of all employees in the operation of equipment through proper training, enforcement of safety rules, documentation, and following proper procedures and GMP protocols.
• Produce and package a high‑quality product through the use of proper procedures and adherence to good manufacturing practices and government standards in cooperation with the Quality & Food Safety department. Responsible for reporting and taking action on food safety and quality problems to the appropriate personnel, as well as following quality and safety programs and policies themselves in order to ensure products made meet the highest standards possible.
• Ensure production lines are operating efficiently and running at targeted throughput. Complete
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to ensure that downtime is minimized and yield is maximized. Execute action plans to ensure root causes of unplanned downtime are addressed.
• Manage Production Schedules and employee schedules and ensure correct crewing and de‑crewing processes are being followed in accordance with crewing standards.
• Monitor rework levels and usage in order to keep rework levels at a minimum.
• Monitor product yields and identify/execute corrective actions and plan to close gaps.
• Build people capability through effective employee relations, hiring, training and communications for frontline hourly associates. Coach and mentor frontline workforce to drive line productivity, efficiency and yields.
• Plan and initiate cross training of employees to expand job knowledge and add flexibility to scheduling the workforce.
• Track KPI/costs and anticipate as well as correct trends which would compromise the achievement of financial targets. Ensure proper and accurate reporting of all daily requirements and metrics (quality, safety, schedule attainment, case fill rate, order fill rate, yield).
• Manage all plant overhead costs to budget such as T&E, supplies, utilities, sanitation, etc.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years supervisory experience in a manufacturing environment or other equivalent experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Ability to work in a cold environment (70% of time in 34°F, 30% administrative office work).
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team based fast paced, changing work environment.
• An understanding of production procedures, safety processes and food safety/quality requirements is desired (FDA compliance).
• Exposure to TPM, Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication skills required.
• Must be self‑motivated and independent.
• Basic Mathematical and analytical skills required as well as problem solving skills.
• Ability to work well in a team environment and collaborate up and down the organization.
• A passion for learning and a craving to work in a fun culture.
• Ability to initiate action to prevent the occurrence of nonconformities relating to food safety, quality and production efficiencies.
• Ability to use computer, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint as well as the Google Suite.
• Familiarity with JDE, RPMS, DSI, and ADP timekeeping a plus.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule as needed. Typical days off are Thursday and Sunday.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bi‑lingual capability is a plus