The Lead Operator is responsible for supporting the Operations Department to drive results on key metrics, including safety, quality, delivery, inventory, and productivity. The Lead Operator will model leadership by promoting teamwork, training, and providing proactive resolutions to production needs. The Lead Operator will motivate the efforts of the Operator team to meet customer requirements and delivery expectations, ensuring that the production processes are running as designed and continuously improving processes to meet our metrics.

For Blueshift's night shift operations, the Lead Operator plays a critical role in maintaining productivity and ensuring a seamless transition from shift to shift. This includes overseeing night shift activities to meet production goals, addressing unique challenges of overnight operations, and maintaining effective communication with day shift Lead Operators for smooth hand-offs. The Lead Operator will exhibit a commitment to defining and adhering to processes, procedures, and leadership behaviors while fostering a supportive and efficient work environment tailored to the demands of night shift operations.

Responsibilities

• Always adhere to safety standards while enforcing safe work habits with all team members; this includes all OSHA regulations and facility safety guidelines.
• Expected to participate in programs such as Hazmat Team, Safety Leadership Teams, and/or DOT trained fork truck operators.
• Assign team tasks and lead daily production efforts to meet manufacturing deliverables; assist with machine operation/functional area tasks when necessary to meet schedules.
• Work with the Operations Leader and other Manufacturing Team Leads to adjust the workflow and resources to fulfill customer requirements/orders by producing quality products, safely, in a timely manner following Standard Work.
• Conducts shift change over activities and ensures smooth hand-off from process- to-process. When multi-shift operations are in use, Lead Operator takes responsibility for smooth shift-to-shift transitions.
• Lead short-term problem-solving activities to correct issues within approved adjustments. When problem complexity requires, work with Process/Project Engineers and Manufacturing Manager to identify and eliminate root cause.
• Must learn and follow standardized work that has been created within assigned role.
• May be directed to improve standardized work processes to gain efficiencies.
• Review prior day’s production to understand and take required actions on misses and other issues; conduct root-cause corrective actions for all missed targets; and review Lead Operators’ daily task assignments, make new assignments, and verify execution of the team members’ standard work.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the company's products and construction charts; provide ongoing training and communication to team members.
• Set a tone for work quality and accountability within the team; understand quality issues affecting final product and respond appropriately to improve quality metrics.
• Cross-train team members in various manufacturing processes to increase job satisfaction and promote depth of talent; ensure team members are fully trained in the area they are working in.
• Work with Operations Leader to develop and define procedures and the associated training for those procedures; provide procedural training to employees as needed.
• Work with Operations Team to control materials usage and maintain inventory accuracy.
• You will take ownership to lead, manage change, and celebrate improvements made by your team.
• Keeps Operations Team informed of assigned shift operations performance and/or issues in areas such as equipment, processes, quality, scheduling, staffing, safety concerns, employee concerns, etc. Refers and provides information to a higher-level manager/supervisor regarding issues or concerns which may result in disciplinary action.
• Communicate effectively with operators and Develop and maintain strong and clear communication and rapport with employees.
• Other duties consistent with the general nature and focus of the position and/or the goals and objectives of the department may be assigned.

Skills & Qualifications

• 5 years working in a manufacturing environment
• Familiar with polymer materials and processing (e.g., mixing, casting, coating, drying, distillation, slitting, lamination).
• Hazardous material handling experience is desirable.
• Self-starter with excellent housekeeping, organizational, teamwork and communication skills.
• Effective in oral and written English.
• Proficient using software for data collection and reporting.
• Able to push, pull or lift 50 lbs.
• Able to wear a respirator, as needed.

Department & Supervisor

Department: Operations

Reporting to: Manufacturing Manager

Type of Employment

Full-time, Monday through Thursday (40 hours per week 8 hours built-in overtime per week). Additional overtime required as business conditions dictate.

Location

Spencer, MA

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)