Packaging Lead - 3rd Shift at Mars, Incorporated in Temple, Texas

Job Description:

The Role:

A Shift Lead's role is to effectively and efficiently communicate, facilitate, co-ordinate, and prioritize all activities and production within the facility. This position requires working closely with other support groups particularly Quality Control and Maintenance to insure consistent product quality, productivity and safety. The Shift Lead will make assignments and monitor progress, co-ordinate training, develop associates in their area of responsibility. The Shift Lead is responsible for developing and implementing continuous improvement activities that address safety, quality, and efficiency. Shift Leads must have in-depth knowledge of their entire operational area and recognized as an expert in multiple technologies. The Lead role requires strong leadership, process and system ownership, communication, interpersonal and team building skills to support site objectives.

Shift Lead:

Is responsible for independently leading an entire production team within the facility.

The Shift Lead is the key point of contact for the support groups on all tactical activities.

Value-stream contact for all externally driven activities in their area.

Take a supporting role with the Line Manager in the performance management process of associates on their shift.

Shift Leads will participate in developmental assignments and/or any new product/technology projects in their area.

Will work without direct supervision.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Control Responsibilities

• Train operators to interpret data (trend data, identify root cause, implement solution)


• Train operators to formulate actions to address non-conformance issues


• Analyze and develop permanent solutions to prevent chronic or significant quality issues


• In-depth


• Oversee of quality or product conformance knowledge of quality systems and all work instructions for area. Provide input for improvements/changes to work instructions issues to ensure corrective/preventative actions are implemented and completed

Safety Compliance

• Train operators on safe operating procedures


• Provide input to any investigation for area of responsibility


• Provide input as appropriate regarding safety


• Ensure working conditions are Normal and enforce safety requirements


• Provide input to project safety reviews or committee meetings on plant systems

Implement Continuous Improvement

• Seek innovative solutions and develop step-function improvements including the use of new technology


• Primary project support to engineering and maintenance


• Technical resource across site


• Drive continuous improvement by developing and implementing systems that optimize all phases of the manufacturing process and support key business objectives (waste, labor, reliability, adherence to schedule, line capacity, etc.)


• Provide input to feasibility and change management requests


• Resource to other sites and across areas

Equipment Maintenance and Sanitation

• Effectively communicates and works with the Reliability group to co-ordinate and complete PM's and improvements to area.


• Identify, report, and help any potential product contamination issue.


• Maintains clean work environment including 5S adherence and follow through to ensure completion of action plans to address sources of contamination.


• Leadership role in cleaning and sanitation of area.

Performance Management & Associate Engagement

• Ensure hourly compliance of FMOS process, including but not limited to all system level boards, area boards, escalations and escalation protocol, connection points, and team communications.


• Provide input to Manager for annual performance reviews of area associates.


• Monitor attendance of each associate and recommend actions as necessary according to company policy.


• Give input to the Manager, regarding job and development expectations for associates by area/job


• Reinforce and communicate job and development expectations to associates


• Provide performance coaching and feedback to associates on a regular basis


• May be involved with hiring decisions along with Manager


• Team Engagement including facilitation of team building discussions


• Provide supplemental input for associates' performance reviews

Steady State/Changeover/Transition

• Responsible for co-ordinating changeover (planning, execution, ramp up to standard rate). Monitor line performance versus plan.


• Responsible for insuring complete and current training documentation on changeovers.


• Provide team leadership for planning, communicating, and executing change-over for line or equipment.


• Lead and safely execute start-up and shutdown activities.

Recognized expert for operations.

• Participate on core teams and cross functional project team


• Line co-ordinator role: Ensure efficient logistics and use of resources throughout the entire line (full-time and temporary manpower).


• Prioritizes all of the operational activities such as unplanned work orders, cleaning activities, and operational preventative maintenance programs.


• Monitor on shift SPEDE, data taker, and ingredient lot tracking programs.


• Demonstrated ability to resolve non-routine issues at root cause and incorporate into preventive actions.


• Detailed knowledge of area including process flow, rates, critical control points, metrics (adherence to schedule, TRS, costs).


• Develop best practices for area and insure best practices are followed.


• Lead or participate in continuous improvement efforts.


• Effective shift communications. Attends and leads shift overlaps, quality reviews, and daily meetings as required.


• Ability to complete root cause failure analysis on issues involving reliability, product/packaging defects, downtime and slow time.


• Effectively works and communicates with all support departments (scheduling, engineering, R&D, IE, logistics, etc.).

Key Skills Required:

• Leadership Skills


• Communication Skills


• Interpersonal/Team Working Skills


• Job Knowledge


• Business Knowledge


• Continuous Improvement


• Problem Solving Skills


• Training Skills


• Initiative


• Work Standards

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 years of manufacturing experience as an Operator, Team Captain, or Maintenance role


• High school diploma or equivalent


• Ability to travel 5% of the time


• Successful completion of a substance screening and background check

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate's degree or equivalent training and/or experience