Packaging Team Leader

Job Description

Job Description

Packaging Team Lead

Location: Taft, CA
Compensation: $60-65K
Employment Type:  Direct Hire  
Schedule: Monday - Friday 1st Shift 

About the Opportunity

Key Staffing is seeking a Packaging Team Lead for a manufacturing facility in Taft, CA. This hands-on leadership role supports daily packaging operations, ensuring production lines run safely and efficiently while meeting quality standards and production goals.

The Packaging Team Lead reports to the Operations Manager and works closely with line leads, forklift operators, and production operators to develop team members, troubleshoot issues, and maintain consistent production.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor packaging lines and operators to ensure production meets established quality, pallet, and performance targets.
• Coach and mentor team members to strengthen their skills and support effective teamwork.
• Maintain a strong presence on the production floor, assisting operators and addressing issues throughout the shift.
• Conduct daily walkthroughs to identify housekeeping concerns, maintenance needs, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support equipment startup and shutdown in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Operate packaging equipment, perform basic troubleshooting, and complete routine maintenance checks and pre-shift inspections.
• Perform quality checks and maintain required production documentation.
• Communicate equipment issues, production concerns, and deviations promptly to the appropriate team members.
• Provide clear shift handoffs covering production activity, equipment concerns, and outstanding issues.
• Assist with daily and monthly cycle counts, inventory activities, and inventory variance reviews.
• Support leadership in evaluating operators and building a strong production team.
• Fill in at production stations and assist other packaging lines and warehouse employees as needed.
• Operate a forklift as needed.
• Identify ways to reduce waste and improve processes through lean manufacturing practices.
• Follow established safety, environmental, and housekeeping procedures and maintain clean, organized work areas.

Qualifications

• Previous leadership experience.
• Strong commitment to workplace safety, quality, and teamwork.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow standard operating procedures.
• Basic math skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to recognize production issues and respond promptly.
• Clear communication skills, including the ability to explain equipment or production concerns to personnel assisting with troubleshooting.
• Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
• Willingness to support continuous improvement and lean manufacturing practices.
• Availability to work overtime.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Work primarily on the production floor around moving equipment and airborne dust or particles.
• Stand and walk throughout the shift.
• Frequently lift and carry materials weighing up to 60 pounds.
• Perform bending, stooping, squatting, reaching, pushing, pulling, twisting, and climbing as required.
• Wear and work safely in required personal protective equipment, which may include safety glasses, a hard hat, hearing protection, a dust mask, gloves, protective clothing, and a safety harness.
• Perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Commitment to Diversity:  As an equal opportunity employer committed to meeting the needs of a multi-generational and multicultural workforce, Key Staffing recognizes that a diverse staff, reflective of our community, is an integral and welcome part of a successful and ethical business. We hire local talent at all levels regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability and actively foster inclusion in all forms both within our company and across interactions with clients, candidates, and partners.