Team Lead Pilot Plant

Team Lead Pilot Plant

Location: Richland, WA

The Pilot Plant Team Leader will be responsible for conducting tests in the laboratory and pilot plant typical of Process Technicians in addition to various tracking, ordering and organizational responsibilities as outlined below. The Pilot Plant Team Leader will conduct safety training for employees as well as temporary employees. Pilot Plant Team Leader directs technicians and ensures adherence to food safety programs. Team Leaders may also be responsible for warehouse and ingredient management.

Accountable for providing effective direction and coordination of all activities in the pilot plant, including daily processing, packaging, clean up, and large-scale productions.

Interfaces directly with product development scientists.

Construct weekly schedule and assign work as needed to the technicians in the absence of the manager.

Ensures on-time delivery of work, equipment ready when needed

Attend Equipment acceptance tests and develop documentation as needed

Maintain a safe and orderly work environment

Maintain the pilot plant in a condition that meets GMP regulations and provides a sanitary environment for producing food products

Construct processes in food preparation and processing, assuming lead on projects as needed

Aid in training all incoming personnel, focusing on safety aspects

Assist the Quality Specialist with the food safety programs, focusing on ingredients and allergens but other programs as necessary.

Order parts and ingredients as needed including all cutting equipment parts.

Track incoming ingredients, packages and products

Metrics measurement and tracking

Coordinate cuttings for internal and external customers as needed

Assist in equipment modification and acquisitions

Communicate problems and any pertinent information to the pilot plant manager

Lead the way in mentoring and training other departments to improve company training overall

Basic & Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Process Quality Certification preferred

Skills and Experience:

• 5+ years of potato processing experiencing required.
• Must have a good understanding of our current plant processing capabilities
• Clear ability to relate to and motivate people
• Can effectively train personnel
• Demonstrated sense of urgency and bias for action
• Problem solving ability
• Requires effective oral and written communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Adhere to Lamb Weston core values and beliefs and act in accordance
• Proactive, self-starter; willing to accept responsibility for business tasks
• Ability to plan, prioritize and execute tasks effectively and efficiently
• Clear concise written and verbal communication skills
• Capable of independent development work design and execution
• Demonstrated basic knowledge of food process technologies

Functional Capabilities:

Financial & Business Acumen - Ability to understand and leverage business opportunities, company strategies and key metrics in making decisions that deliver expectations. Foundation - Understands basic company financial concepts used to produce desired results.

Innovative and Strategic Thinking - Proactively frames & evaluates ideas, concepts and opportunities in creative ways (even with imperfect information) to deliver enterprise level thinking, vision & direction. Advanced - Easily produces innovative ideas or links a group of ideas together.

Product & Manufacturing Knowledge - Leverages knowledge of?product, packaging, supply chain, market and customer to influence decisions and drive a competitive advantage. Advanced - Applies knowledge of portfolio to develop new products and innovate processes.

Concept Creation & Development - Translates diverse insights to build and scale innovative packages and products to meet the needs of consumers and customers. Foundation - Builds ideas.

Project Planning and Execution - Develops, implements, facilitates and manages comprehensive cross-functional project plans that deliver objectives. Advanced - Develops and implements plans to deliver project objectives using standard project management methodologies.

Value Chain Optimization - Understands and considers the entire value chain (product, packaging and process), key strategies and potential risks to optimize Lamb Weston returns. Foundation - Applies knowledge of adjacent functional areas to successfully collaborate.

Work Process Discipline and Execution - Develops, documents, implements and maintains standardized processes, procedures and programs. Advanced - Integrates and optimizes work processes to drive compliance and efficiencies

Food Science - Knowledge of food science principles (including chemistry, engineering, microbiology & sensory) to design, develop and enhance products from ideation to commercialization. Foundation - Understands and applies food science

Packaging Engineering - Understands and uses knowledge of material sciences, manufacturing and equipment capabilities to design, develop and enhance packaging from ideation to commercialization of LW products. Foundation - Applies knowledge of packaging material and technology.

Commercialization - Translates formulations and specifications from batch to full scale production including the hand off to Supply Chain utilizing food safety standards. Foundation- Executes and understands the manufacturing of food products

Physical Environment/Demands:

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and to stand, walk, bend, stoop, twist and turn frequently.
• Exposed to a noisy environment that varies from hot to cold in temperature
• Exposure to manufacturing environments for up to 8 hours per work day to include:? loud noise, excessive heat, cold, wet, slippery conditions, dirt, fumes, smoke, smells and allergies?
• Ability to do repetitious arm, wrist and hand movements required for job actions and procedures.
• Must be able to work with hands and arms overhead, and to work in or under the equipment.
• Requires manual dexterity, overall coordination and good balance to work both at ground level and in high places to perform job duties. Ability to operate work related equipment
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Valid Driver's License and driving record that meets Lamb Weston Driving Standards preferred.
• Exposed to temperatures ranging from -20 degrees below zero to 35 degrees Fahrenheit in Freezer Operation and 37 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit in Plant Operation
• May have to sample food while evaluating Lamb Weston products
• Climbing to various heights via stairs or ladders on a regular basis

Industry-Competitive Benefits

Coupled with our compensation and bonus incentive programs, our benefits deliver rewards that are market competitive. Some of the most attractive elements of our benefit programs include:

• Health Insurance Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care, and Health Reimbursement Accounts
• Well-being programs including companywide events and a wellness incentive program
• Paid Time Off
• Financial Wellness Industry leading 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, Financial Planning Services, Employee Stock purchase program, and Health Savings Accounts, Life and Accident insurance
• Family-Friendly Employee events
• Employee Assistance Program services mental health and other concierge type services

Benefits may vary based on location, job role/level, job status, and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Anticipated Close Date: 09/22/2026

Pay Transparency

In compliance with applicable state and local laws, Lamb Weston has opted to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. This compensation is specific to this position and takes into account a number of variables. Actual compensation may be higher or lower in the range posted based on various factors, including, but not limited to, job duties, experience and expertise. A candidate's work location could also impact the actual compensation being outside of the range to reflect local cost of labor. A reasonable annual estimate of the range for this role is listed below.

Pay Rate or Range: $59,010.00 - $88,510.00

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lamb Weston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law