Production Lead

Production Lead

Department: Production

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Summerville, SC

Description

At Thorne, we work to deliver high-quality, science-backed solutions to empower individuals to take a proactive approach to their well-being. Each day begins with a mission to help others discover and achieve their best health. We count on our team members to challenge and push the boundaries to make that happen. At Thorne, you'll be joining a team of more than 750 passionate individuals committed to our cause of providing superior health solutions at every age and life stage.
At Thorne, Production Leads are the frontline leaders who keep our manufacturing operations running safely, efficiently, and on schedule. This role combines hands-on production expertise with leadership responsibilities, serving as the day-to-day resource for Production Operators while partnering closely with Supervisors to achieve quality, safety, and production goals.

As a Production Lead, you'll coach team members, coordinate daily production activities, troubleshoot operational challenges, and help create an environment where people and performance thrive. This role is an excellent opportunity for experienced manufacturing professionals looking to grow into future leadership positions.


Weekend Schedule- 12 Hour Shifts

• Week 1: Friday - Sunday
• Week 2: Thursday - Sunday

Mixing, Sanitation and Encapsulation are Day shift; 5am - 5pm
Packaging is Night shift, 5pm - 5am

Mixing
Leads the production of Thorne's nutritional supplements by overseeing the accurate weighing, blending, and preparation of raw ingredients. Ensures product quality, equipment readiness, and adherence to strict manufacturing standards.

Sanitation
Oversees the cleaning and sanitization of production equipment and manufacturing areas to maintain a safe, compliant environment. Ensures sanitation procedures, documentation, chemical handling, and hygiene practices meet FDA, cGMP, and company standards.

Encapsulation
Leads the operation of encapsulation equipment that transforms blended formulations into finished capsules. Focuses on equipment performance, product quality, throughput, and compliance with manufacturing specifications.

Packaging
Oversees the packaging of finished products, ensuring supplements are accurately labeled, sealed, inspected, and prepared for distribution. Drives efficiency while maintaining quality, regulatory compliance, and on-time production.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate day-to-day production activities to safely achieve quality, productivity, and schedule goals.
• Support operators throughout the shift by providing direction, answering questions, and removing production obstacles.
• Help manage staffing, materials, equipment, and workflow to keep production running efficiently.
• Lead shift transitions to ensure smooth handoffs and uninterrupted production.
• Train and mentor Production Operators on equipment, processes, SOPs, and best practices.
• Support onboarding and skill development for new team members.
• Reinforce quality, safety, and operational expectations through daily coaching.
• Partner with Supervisors to provide feedback and support employee development.
• Ensure all production activities comply with cGMP, FDA, OSHA, and Thorne quality standards.
• Review and complete production documentation accurately and on time.
• Monitor production areas to ensure cleanliness, organization, and inspection readiness.
• Help identify, investigate, and resolve quality or process issues.
• Monitor equipment performance and proactively identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Escalate equipment concerns and production issues quickly to minimize downtime.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that increase productivity and reduce waste.
• Help maintain production output while ensuring product quality is never compromised.

WHAT YOU NEED

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in manufacturing, production, or another fast-paced operational environment.
• Previous experience leading, training, or mentoring others preferred.
• Working knowledge of cGMP, FDA, ISO, or other regulated manufacturing environments is preferred.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working hands-on while leading by example.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive compensation
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
• Company- paid life insurance
• 401k plan with employer matching contributions up to 4%
• Gym membership reimbursement
• Monthly allowance of Thorne supplements
• Paid time off, volunteer time off and holiday leave
• Training, professional development, and career growth opportunities