About the job:

Lead the safe, efficient, and effective day-to-day operation of the manufacturing facility while driving performance aligned with our 4Z philosophy: Zero Injuries, Zero Defects, Zero Downtime, and Zero Late Deliveries. This role requires visible leadership on the production floor, a commitment to continuous improvement, and a focus on achieving operational excellence.

Serve as a key coordinator across production, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and other support functions to facilitate collaborative decision-making, resolve issues, and balance competing business priorities. As a First-Line Manager, you will lead and develop frontline teams while contributing to a high-performance culture and supporting future growth opportunities within the organization.

This position requires flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to support changing business demands.

The regular first-shift schedule is 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM; however, flexibility is required to support our 24/7 manufacturing operation, including occasional extended hours as needed.

This is an onsite position located in Richmond, VA.

As a part of the team, you will:

• Lead daily safety inspections and weekly audits to drive continuous PPE and machinery improvements.
• Identify HSE hazards and partner with safety teams to implement factory-wide improvements.
• Develop and implement safe working procedures as the primary responsible line manager.
• Participate in scheduled QSHE audits to ensure strict adherence to regulatory standards.
• Champion daily 5S routines to maintain and sustain high workplace organization standards.
• Be on the factory floor  (80-90% of time) to achieve "4Z" goals: Zero Injury, Defect, Downtime, and Lates.
• Manage the factory "Status Board" to communicate KPI metrics and project updates effectively.
• Drive "Bottom Line" performance by managing people costs, scrap, and maintenance expenses.
• Analyze ERP transactions to identify and resolve root-cause deviations.
• Monitor equipment downtime to trigger and lead performance improvement activities.
• Manage a shift consisting of 2 Team Leaders and 12~16 Team Members, including shift handovers.
• Execute recruitment and capacity planning based on 3–6 month factory load demands.
• Oversee goal setting, annual performance reviews, and professional development plans.
• Conduct monthly and quarterly information sessions to keep the team aligned on corporate goals.
• Identify and implement cross-training opportunities to increase workforce flexibility.
• Act as Process Owner for SOP development, auditing, and quality assurance.
• Identify and eliminate "Waste" (Time, Motion, Inventory) through active Kaizen initiatives.
• Report all safety or quality deviations immediately to ensure rapid corrective action.
• Continually review and suggest technical optimizations for Standard Operating Procedures.
• Report directly to the Factory/Unit Manager.
• Exercise decision-making authority as delegated by the Factory Manager.
• Halt production immediately in response to safety, quality, or environmental deviations.
• Provide immediate problem-solving support for all production processes.
• Initiate and lead independent problem resolution and improvement activities.
• Coordinate with support functions including Quality, Maintenance, Planning, and Warehouse.

We care about diversity, inclusion and equity in our recruitment processes. We also believe behavioral traits can provide important insights into a candidate's fit to a role. To help us achieve this we apply Pymetrics assessments, and upon application you will be invited to play the assessment games. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

What you know:

You have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (preferably Mechanical or Industrial Engineering) and:

• 2+ years work experience in Maintenance/Production/Quality.
• 1+ in people management.
• Ability to interpret drawings, blueprints, and machine reports.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Advanced skills in ERP systems, MS Office, AutoCAD, and data analysis.

At Alfa Laval, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive and dynamic workplace that values diverse perspectives and experiences. While we typically welcome applicants from all locations, currently, we are prioritizing candidates who reside in the US or have an established presence in the area.

What’s in it for you?

We offer a challenging position in an open and friendly environment where we help each other to develop and create value. Your work will have a true impact on Alfa Laval’s future success. Our benefits-eligible associates enjoy healthcare, dental and vision plans, a robust wellness program, generous 401(k), paid holidays, paid time off benefits, and more. At Alfa Laval, we carefully consider a wide range of factors to determine your total compensation package. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job, background, skills, and experience to get it right.  The base salary for this role is typically $85,000 - $95,000.