Location: Bluffton, IN
Night shift position.
How will you fit in the big picture? The Team Lead Production oversees a team of subject matter experts or technical employees responsible for daily manufacturing operations within an assigned area of the Bluffton plant. You will translate short-term production goals into clear daily priorities, coordinate production and maintenance activities, and resolve routine operational challenges to help deliver safe, high-quality, and consistent output.
Using fundamental leadership practices such as scheduling, prioritization, coaching, and follow-up, you will support reliable execution while reinforcing food quality, environmental, safety, and operating standards. The role also evaluates issues using available information, comparison of multiple factors, and established best practices to maintain stable operations and continuous improvement.
What will you do? - Coordinate daily production activities and assign work to maintain safe, efficient production flow within the assigned area.
- Communicate shift priorities and performance expectations, monitor progress, and address issues that could affect throughput, quality, cost, or safety.
- Provide day-to-day direction, work scheduling, coaching, and process guidance to subject matter experts and technical team members.
- Reinforce standard operating procedures and ensure consistent compliance with food quality, food safety, employee safety, environmental, and plant requirements.
- Coordinate with maintenance and other departments and shifts; document, prioritize, and follow up on maintenance notification requests in SAP PM.
- Confirm that employees are properly qualified, trained, and prepared to perform assigned work productively as individuals and as part of a team.
- Support labor staffing decisions in alignment with planned staffing and operational needs, including verification of employee time records.
- Enter and review operational information in SAP, check quality documentation, interpret production performance reports, and follow up on exceptions and opportunities.
- Resolve routine operational issues by researching relevant information, comparing contributing factors, and applying established best practices.
- Promote continuous improvement by encouraging ideas, identifying opportunities, and supporting practical actions that improve plant performance.
Minimum Requirements Experience: 3+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing or a high-speed, complex operating environment.
Education: High school diploma or GED required; bachelor's degree preferred.
Required skills: Demonstrated leadership, coaching, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and prioritization skills; ability to work effectively across levels and interpret production performance information; proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Preferred qualifications: Previous supervisory or team leadership experience, food manufacturing experience, and SAP experience.
The anticipated base salary range for this role is $72,960 to $91,200 per year. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skill set, education, and training. In addition to a market-competitive base salary, our Total Rewards package includes performance-based incentives and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package designed to support overall physical, mental, and financial well-being (as applicable). Learn more about Hershey's benefits and all the resources Hershey provides to support our employees' physical, emotional, and financial well-being by visiting the Hershey Digital Employee Experience at www.askHRbenefits.hersheys.com
