Production Lead (1st Shift)

Production Lead (Food Manufacturing Plant)

Join the Sweetest Team in Aurora! Production 1st Shift - 3:00AM-3:00PM Hourly Wage: $20.60-$25.60 Ready to take your career to the next level? With Dessert Holdings you will help create the desserts people love and celebrate with... Be a part of something sweet! Dessert Holdings is the leading premium dessert company in the world. We craft artisanal, scratch-made desserts at scale, combining culinary innovation with the finest real ingredients. With a rich heritage spanning seven distinctive brands, we bring unmatched expertise and tailored solutions to our Retail and Foodservice partners.

Why You'll Love Working Here

Work with purpose — you help deliver the desserts people celebrate with. Supportive team environment where your contributions matter. Growth opportunities across multiple departments. Training provided — including certifications! Whether you're building your career or looking for a fresh start, we'll help you grow. Dessert Holdings offers benefits such as a choice of comprehensive medical plans, dental and vision insurance, paid vacation and holidays, and retirement contribution to all eligible employees

Opportunity Overview

Are you ready to elevate your career in manufacturing operations and be a part of creating the world's best desserts?

Dessert Holdings partners with some of North America's most iconic chains to bring people together to celebrate life's sweetest moments! Our team in Aurora, CO is looking for a Production Lead! This position is responsible for overseeing and producing safe and quality food following production standards on specific assignments within required time. This position is also responsible for understanding related Quality Management Systems including SQF, HACCP, and GMP to ensure safety and quality of employees and products. The job duties include responsibility for assuring food safety and for food quality for Steven Charles products. A supervisor or other person of authority should be notified if any issues or threats to food safety or food quality are observed.

What You'll Do Every Day

• Enforce all safety rules including PPE, machine guarding, and LOTO requirements; perform start-of-shift and in-process safety checks (CID's).
• Stop production and escalate immediately for any safety hazard; notify supervision of abnormalities or unsafe conditions.
• Report incidents, near-misses, and hazards; create and track maintenance work requests in Maintenance until resolution.
• Coach, train, and hold employees accountable for safe work practices; ensure required safety training is completed and documented.
• Ensure continuous compliance with SQF, HACCP, GMP, allergen, sanitation, and hygiene standards.
• Conduct, document, and verify required quality checks including weights, temperatures, labels, lot codes, and visual standards.
• Verify batch sheets, formulas, build sheets, raw material usage, FIFO, and traceability at start-up and changeovers.
• Escalate, quarantine, and support investigation of product for any quality or food safety issue; ensure timely rework and corrective actions.
• Lead, coach, and organize 10–40 employees to meet hourly and daily production goals with minimal waste and downtime.
• Hold team members accountable for safety, quality, and operations on assigned line.
• Establish and maintain standard line staffing; verify coverage at start-up, breaks, and changeovers; escalate gaps as needed.
• Train, cross-train, and verify employee task qualifications and certifications.
• Set up production lines to standard configurations and ensure smooth start-ups, changeovers, and shift handoffs.
• Maintain accurate, real-time production documentation and system entries (D365, Hour-by-Hour boards, Centerlines, CID's, pre-op inspections).
• Monitor and communicate KPIs including efficiency, throughput, waste, and downtime; follow downtime escalation procedures.
• Operate equipment and perform basic troubleshooting; demonstrate working knowledge of line equipment, controls, and common failure points; request maintenance support when issues exceed scope.
• Submit and track maintenance work orders in eMaintenance for equipment, safety, or operational issues.
• Maintain housekeeping, sanitation, and GMP standards; support 5S, standard work, and continuous improvement activities.
• Communicate priorities, issues, and abnormalities promptly to supervision and support investigations and corrective actions.

What We're Looking For

• Prior experience in a manufacturing environment and/or leadership role.
• Ability to read, write, and complete production documentation in English or Spanish.
• Basic math skills and proficiency with batch sheets, formulas, and specifications.
• Basic equipment knowledge including operation and first-level troubleshooting.
• Strong verbal communication skills. Ability to work overtime and weekends as needed.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
• Prior experience leading teams or supervising production lines.
• Stand for extended periods; lift up to 50 lbs with assistance as needed.
• Perform repetitive motions including grasping, pushing/pulling, bending, kneeling, and reaching.
• Work in environments with exposure to heat, cold, chemicals, food allergens, loud noise, and moving mechanical parts

About Dessert Holdings

Dessert Holdings is a collection of premium dessert companies and brands: The Original Cakerie, Lawler's Desserts, Atlanta Cheesecake Company, Steven Charles, Dianne's Fine Desserts, Kenny's Great Pies, and Willamette Valley Pie Company. Dessert Holdings is owned by Bain Capital, is headquartered in St. Paul, MN, employs more than 3,500 people across ten manufacturing facilities, and is continuing its journey of rapid growth.

EEO Statement

Dessert Holdings and its related entities provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristics protected by law.