Production Team Lead

Team Leader, Production at Michelman serve as both Senior Chemical Operators and temporary frontline leaders. In addition to safely performing production tasks and supporting batch execution, they assume full supervisory authority in the absence of the Production Supervisor. They safeguard safety, quality, and productivity across the plant, ensuring production schedules are met and standard procedures are enforced.

Beyond their own task execution, Team Leader, Production monitor all production employees, coach team members, and reinforce adherence to EHS, quality, and housekeeping standards. They provide guidance during incidents, escalate issues appropriately, and support investigations to maintain compliance and continuous improvement. They are trusted to uphold Michelman’s values, train new hires, and step into leadership with accountability and authority whenever required.

Team Leader, Production manufacture cold blend batches, emulsion center batches, reactor batches, and work independently in one or more areas, including but not limited to wastewater treatment, packaging, extrusion operation, or material handling.

Primary Responsibilities

• Act as equipment and area owner, maintaining ownership over assigned equipment and in absence of Shift Supervisor, assume duties for his or her responsibilities.
• Analyze operational performance gaps and develop corrective action plans.
• Assign shift personnel to work areas in accordance with production schedule, balancing staffing across competing priorities, and making real-time decisions about production priorities when conflicts arise.
• Complete transactional work order tasks and material movements across multiple software.
• Ensure readiness of utilities for unit operation (e.g., heat exchanger, hot-water-on-demand).
• Follow SOPs to safely operate equipment including reactors, kettles, mixers, pumps, filtration, forklifts, and utilities.
• Drive participation in engagement or culture-building initiatives.
• Foster a culture of safety, respect, and teamwork on shift.
• Load, unload, and package materials per instructions, completing all documentation.
• Manufacture batches per work orders and adjust as needed to meet specifications.
• Mediate interpersonal conflicts among operators.
• Monitor and interpret process parameters, record data in real time, and escalate abnormal conditions or trends.
• Operate process systems (e.g., extruders, packaging lines, wastewater treatment, boiler) in compliance with safety, quality, and efficiency standards.
• Participate in shift handoffs and daily tier meetings to support production continuity.
• Perform equipment calibrations in accordance with gauge standards.
• Record inventory transactions accurately in ERP.
• Support product trials and help refine batch procedures.
• Track and report shift-level performance metrics (safety, quality, yield, productivity, cost).
• Use checklists to perform equipment changeovers, line clearances, and task verifications.
• Use checklists to prepare and perform equipment cleaning and/or sanitization, changeovers, line clearances, and task verifications.
• Verify raw material identity, lot codes, and quantities before staging for production.

General Responsibilities

• Access digital tools for just-in-time learning and job guidance.
• Address performance or behavior issues promptly and in alignment with company policies.
• Ask clarifying questions to ensure task understanding and reduce operational risk.
• Communicate effectively with team leaders, support staff, and managers to address safety, quality, and production concerns.
• Complete required training, certifications, and assessments on time.
• Follow all EHS and Quality policies to maintain a safe and compliant workplace.
• Lead and train new and existing operators by modeling standard work and reinforcing best practices.
• Keep work areas clean and organized to meet housekeeping and GMP standards.
• Provide peers with constructive feedback to improve safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Recognize and reward team member contributions to reinforce desired behaviors.

Environmental, Health, & Safety Responsibilities

• Actively engage in safety meetings and toolbox talks.
• Lead and participate in shift-level near-miss and incident reviews.
• Maintain situational awareness of all work occurring within the assigned area. Ensure that concurrent activities do not create safety risks or operational conflicts.
• Review and follow hazard labels and chemical handling procedures.
• Segregate and dispose of waste materials per environmental guidelines.
• Stop work when undue health, safety, or environmental risks are present. Step back and get help before proceeding.
• Support safe work execution in coordination with Maintenance, Engineering, Project Teams, and peers.
• Wear required PPE in accordance with procedures and safety data sheets (SDSs).

Quality Responsibilities

• Perform quality control tests and adjust batches to meet specifications.
• Collaborate with the quality team to resolve product or customer issues.
• Review batch records and follow deviation and…