Production Operations & Quality Excellence Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Own safety, quality, and throughput—from start to finish

You’ll be the go-to leader on the floor, ensuring every shift runs safely, meets rigorous quality standards, and hits production targets while mentoring a capable team and advancing continuous improvement.

Key outcomes

• Safety leadership : Maintain a safe workplace, engage in the Safety Committee, and protect people and assets.
• Regulatory compliance : Ensure adherence to Food Safety, GMPs, and HAACP Principle/Food Safety Standard and Application.
• Quality assurance : Track visual/dimensional attributes, perform CVP surveillance checks, and react quickly to trends with Quality.
• Production performance : Schedule and assign work to achieve line speeds and efficiencies; deliver accurate reporting (production, HFI, downtime, MRO) and manage parts inventory.
• Team leadership : Handle scheduling, time/attendance, policy administration, documentation, assessments, training, mentoring, and discipline.
• CI ownership : Lead Lean Six Sigma teams; embed 5S, TPM, SMED, and 8D; remove waste and reduce costs while modeling Ardagh Core Values.
• Asset care : Troubleshoot and analyze equipment issues; coordinate PMs/repairs, overhauls, and new equipment installations; provide break relief as needed.

Direct reports

Production and Operation Team Members

What you need to succeed

• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and training skills; proven ability to guide cross-functional, self-directed teams.
• Mechanical/electrical aptitude with strong critical-thinking skills and sound judgment.
• People-first leader who motivates, builds cohesion, and maintains a positive, high-energy culture.
• Lean manufacturing familiarity and a continuous improvement/system mindset.
• Comfortable engaging with all levels of personnel and customers.
• Availability for all schedules: 12-hour, daylight/off-shifts, weekends, and holidays.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, behaviors and or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & experience

• Associate Degree in a related field or 5+ years as a manufacturing lead/supervisor (screening, reviews, counseling, training, development).
• Evidence of performance management to goals/standards and success leading skilled technicians.

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• 7+ years of mechanical/electrical experience in manufacturing; metal manufacturing experience preferred.
• Kaizen / Lean Six Sigma projects and training.

Computer skills

Proficient computer skills (i.e., Microsoft Applications).

Schedule snapshot

Average hours per week: 40 or 36/48 alternating. Usual shift worked is: 8 or 12 hours.

Physical demands (high level)

• Regular: stand, walk, use hands; frequent: reach, stoop, kneel, crouch/crawl; work in confined spaces.
• Lifting: occasionally up to 75 lbs; frequently 1–50 lbs; no continual lifting.
• Vision: close/distance and color recognition; solid hand/eye coordination.

• Stand: 40%
• Sit: 5%
• Walk: 30%
• Lift: 5%
• Twist: 5%
• Squat: 1%
• Crawl: 1%
• Climb: 2%
• Bend (90–180 degrees): 5%
• Reach above shoulders: 2%
• Work at heights: 1%

Occasionally 1–33%, frequently 34–66%, and Continuously 67–100% of the time. Lifting requirements: Up to 15 lbs …….. Frequently; 16–30 lbs…………. Occasionally; 31–50 lbs…………. Occasionally; 51–75 lbs…………. Occasionally; 76–100 lbs……….. Occasionally; Over 100 lbs ……. Not required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work environment

Very loud environment; hearing protection and assigned PPE required. Temperature ranges from extreme cold to high heat (95 degrees). Air may contain fumes, dust, and odors.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Special hazards

Mechanical/electrical hazards from machinery; daily handling of chemicals that are toxic and explosive.

Compensation

Salary Range: $82,000 - $103,000 (good-faith estimate based on the expected scope of the role and internal equity considerations).