Manufacturing Cell Leader -- Assembly Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Shape the shift. Grow the team. Deliver the plan.

Step onto our assembly floor in Ripon, WI and lead a high-performing crew as the first-line leader for your assigned area/zone. Your mission: coordinate the day’s work so the schedule is met, quality is protected, and every team member goes home safely. This is a 2nd Shift role, Monday–Thursday, 3:00 pm–1:00 am, with additional work days as business needs arise.

A day in this role

At 3:00 pm, you kick off the shift huddle—reviewing safety, production goals, and quality priorities. You align resources, verify training coverage, and check that standard work and 5S are in place. As the line runs, you coach and remove roadblocks, connect with technical support, and engage team members in continuous improvement. You close the night by tracking results against operating metrics and setting up the next shift for success.

What you’ll lead and deliver

• Champion a safety-first culture—model safe behavior, reinforce compliance, and drive safety awareness across the zone.
• Teach, train, and motivate Team Members on safety protocols and procedures; ensure respectful treatment in every interaction.
• Cultivate continuous improvement—empower every team member to contribute ideas, participate in kaizen, and strengthen 5S.
• Coach and mentor for both safety and productivity; build skill depth to support lean operations and waste reduction.
• Confirm that employees are properly trained by their Team Leader or a designated trainer in safety, quality, equipment operation, and 5S.
• Foster collaboration—encourage feedback, participation in safety initiatives, and open communication.
• Partner closely with technical staff to secure timely support and maintain flow.
• Set and pursue annual goals that align to operating metrics; track progress and course-correct.
• Continuously improve processes to reduce inventory and work-in-process while protecting throughput.
• Serve as the first point of contact for employee relations matters; collaborate with Union Stewards on contract and discipline issues.
• Tackle other duties as assigned to meet production and team needs.

Qualifications you bring

• Proven servant-leadership approach with the ability to lead from the front and develop people.
• 1–3 years in a medium/high-volume, fast-paced manufacturing environment with a strong safety focus (preferred).
• Prior manufacturing supervision experience (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Manufacturing Engineering, or Operations (preferred).
• Relevant professional, internship, or co-op experience considered.

Skills that set you up to win

• Self-driven, ambitious leader who coaches, mentors, and supervises effectively in a team setting.
• Confident with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Strong problem solver who sparks proactive thinking and solution creation across the team.
• Foundational knowledge of process control, production scheduling, Kaizen, Kanban, and Lean (preferred).

Physical aspects of the job

• Regular stooping and bending; prolonged standing; manual dexterity; ability to lift up to 50 lbs without assistance.

Location & schedule

• Ripon, WI
• 2nd Shift: Monday–Thursday, 3:00 pm–1:00 am (additional work days as needed)